Kosovo Court Dismisses Businessman's Defamation Suit Against BIRN Over Solar Probe

The Basic Court in Pristina has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Kosovo businessman Blerim Devolli against BIRN Kosovo director Jeta Xharra and public broadcaster RTK. The dismissal occurred after Devolli and his legal team failed to appear at the scheduled hearing, leading the court to consider the case withdrawn. The lawsuit originated in 2020 following an award-winning investigative report titled "Unclean energy: The Kosovar Who Would Own the Sun," which exposed a scheme involving Maltese shell companies owned by Devolli. These entities allegedly exploited solar energy incentive tariffs while violating monopoly rules by concealing true ownership. Devolli had claimed the reporting used denigrating language and contained false information. Civil society groups criticized the suit as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) aimed at intimidating journalists. This ruling represents another legal victory for BIRN, following earlier decisions that overturned findings by the Independent Media Commission. The investigation previously received top honors from the EU and the OSCE for its journalistic excellence in economic reporting.