Kosovo Appeals Court Orders Retrial for Kelmendi's Case

The case of Naser Kelmendi, who was found guilty of running a narcotics operation and was jailed for six years in February, has been sent for a retrial by Kosovo Appeals Court on Thursday, his lawyer Besnik Berisha told BIRN.

Kelmendi will be released while he awaits retrial.

In February, the Basic Court in Pristina found Kelmendi guilty of the "unauthorised possession with intent to distribute, sell and/or export/import dangerous narcotic drugs".

The Basic Court also found Kelmendi not guilty of the murder of Ramiz Delacic, however, or of organised crime and other charges related to narcotics.

Kelmendi's trial began in January 2015, when he was charged with aggravated murder, two counts of organised crime and six counts of the sale and production of drugs in various capacities, which include managing and overseeing a narcotics ring.

Read more:

Kelmendi Trial Reveals Balkan Drug Ring's Operations

Kosovo Court Jails Kelmendi For Drugs Running

Kelmendi Witnesses Faced Death Threats, Prosecutor Says