Hearing on the "Partizani" file/ The former president's testimony in the GJKKO is revealed

2026-07-20 12:11:00, Aktualitet CNA

Hearing on the "Partizani" file/ The former president's testimony

Parts of former President Bamir Topi's testimony in the trial session on the merits of the "Partizani" case have been revealed. According to reports, prosecutors Arben Kraja and Enkelejda Millonai were present in the courtroom.

During his testimony, the former president spoke about his acquaintances with the defendants in the case, stating that he only knew Jamarbër Malltez as the son-in-law of the Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha.

Among other things, it was stated that the deployment plan process was a political process that came from the Ministry of Defense and all preparation consisted of the headquarters and the Ministry of Defense.

Excerpt from the testimony:

SPAK: Do you know the defendants Fatmir Bektashi, Andia Pustina, Jamarbër Malltezi?

Topi: I know Malltez as the son-in-law of Dr. Berisha, with whom I have worked for a long time. I want to specify that we have never even sat down for a coffee. So, it was a long-distance acquaintance.

Mr. Begeja and I lived in an old neighborhood, about 500 meters apart. He lived on Selvia Street, I lived on Rruga e Bërdikadave. We never sat down or had a conversation.

I know Mr. Bektashi as a character who was involved in politics at one time. If I'm not mistaken, he was once a deputy minister. I don't know Andia Pustina.

SPAK: When was Mr. Bektashi deputy minister?

Topi: I have the impression that he was a deputy minister during the Meksi era, if I'm not mistaken.

SPAK: Can you explain to us about the procedure with the dissemination plan? Which structures were doing the final study?

Topi: In my capacity as President of the Republic, I was also Commander of the Armed Forces. The deployment plan process was a political process that came from the Ministry of Defense, a technical process and came as an act. The entire preparation consisted of the headquarters and the Ministry of Defense.

At that time, it was a time of reforms, reforms to join NATO, and the entire procedure, the entire process, was assisted by very well-known NATO experts. It was implemented, closed by the headquarters, and came to me only to be legally closed.

SPAK: During that time, do you remember how much decision-making you may have had about the plan?

Topi: It was not only the President's right to close a procedure that went with a major achievement to join NATO.

SPAK: Have you been made aware of any issues?

Topi: From the moment the process began, this is not the responsibility of the President's office. If I'm not mistaken, it came through Vladimir Qiriazi, it must have been 2009. I had a busy agenda and I expected him normally, given that he had the status of a general. He started to express concerns and I told him to assist with the group of advisors. At the end of the day I received information that the chief of staff told me: "We were consulted, we gave opinions, but it is not something that is within the competence of the President, because it is about a property that has come out of the expansion plan from August 2007". He told me: "It is within the competence of the government". That was my knowledge.

SPAK: Were you aware of the privatization?

Topi: I heard, as everyone has heard. It was outside the President's procedure.

SPAK: Have you been notified in writing of any problems by Mr. Qiriazi?

Topi: I remember telling you this.

SPAK: You dismissed Mr. Vladimir Qiriazi from his position as commander. Who made the proposals?

Topi: I can't tell you the procedure, but I believe it came from the General Staff as a proposal. /CNA