The Panel of the Supreme Court of Kosovo in a majority of EULEX judges on 10 May 2017 decided that the three appeals filed by Sylejman Selimi, Sami Lushtaku and Jahir Demaku are admissible. Therefore, in its rulings dated 10 May 2017 and 3 July 2017, the Supreme Court declared the request for protection of legality filed by the defense counsel of Sylejman Selimi against the same judgment of the Court of Appeals as unpermitted, because the above mentioned judgement of the Court of Appeals is not final before the third instance appeals are adjudicated (requests for protection of legality are permitted only against final decisions).
In relation to the third instance appeals, the panel acquitted Sami Lushtaku from all counts; this was the reason why the measure of detention on remand against him was terminated some weeks ago. The conviction of Sylejman Selimi was modified because he was acquitted for Count IX related to the command responsibility over the Likoc detention centre. However, the conviction rendered by the Court of Appeals in relation to Count IV (beating of an unidentified man from Shipol area) was upheld in relation to Sylejman Selimi and Jahir Demaku. Consequently, the modified sentence of imprisonment of 8 (eight) years was imposed on Sylejman Selimi, and the previous conviction of defendant Jahir Demaku of 5 (five) years of imprisonment was confirmed.