Ivanovic may be sentenced to ten years up to life imprisonment
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Oliver Ivanovic, suspected of war and post-war crimes, may be sentenced to ten years up to life imprisonment. The Serb politician’s arrest warrant, which KTV got hold of, describes the orders issued by Ivanovic to kill nine Albanians in April 1999, as MUP commander in north. The arrest warrant also describes Ivanovic’s orders and participation in killing of Albanians in February 2000, this time at the capacity of the chief of paramilitary group Bridge Watchers. A Serb is one of the witnesses who saw Ivanovic orchestrating all those crimes against Albanians.
On the other hand, Serb MPs in the Kosovo Assembly urged relevant authorities to allow Ivanovic to be defended in freedom.
Also on Thursday, a group of Serb community citizens in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë protested, demanding release of Oliver Ivanovic, one of the local leaders. Demands of the protesters were mostly addressed to the international community, namely EULEX.
Ksenija Bozovic, representative of Serbia, Democracy, Justice civic initiative, said that keeping of Ivanovic in jail may destabilise north Kosovo. According to her, Ivanovic was arrested for political motives, as he does not accept integration of the north into the state of Kosovo.
Ivanovic to run for Mitrovica/Mitrovicë extraordinary mayoral elections
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Regardless the fact that Oliver Ivanovic has been put in one month detention by the Mitrovica/Mitrovicë Basic Court, he will run for the mayor of north Mitrovica/Mitrovicë municipality in the extraordinary elections to be held on 23rd February.
Other candidates who will run in the extraordinary elections are Florent Azemi of PDK, Musa Miftari of LDK, and Goran Radic of Srpska civic initiative.
Minority community MPs announce boycott of Assembly sessions
(RTK2)
Kosovo Assembly MP from Bosniak community Emilija Redzepi, who got her mandate thanks to existence of reserved seats, said that all legal means should be used in the fight for extending mandate of these seats, including boycott of Kosovo Assembly sessions. She believes that all MPs of Kosovo minority communities agree with her. Redzepi said that as far as reserved seats of minority communities are concerned, they enjoy the support of internationals.
Members of the Independent Serb Liberal Party (SLS) caucus said that although the goal is the same, it still remains to be decided about future steps and means of fighting for reserved seats.
PM Thaçi encourages Preteni to disclose names
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi encouraged the Head of Kosovo Anticorruption Agency (KACA) to denounce anyone that puts pressure or impedes him from performing the duties as Head of KACA.
Following the meeting with Preteni, PM Thaçi wrote on his Facebook account that establishment of rule of law is one of the government’s priorities and it is a basic precondition for country’s development and European integration.
Assembly requests urgent debate on UP situation
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
On Thursday’s session, lawmakers requested an urgent debate in the Kosovo Assembly on the situation at the University of Prishtina (UP). The AAK caucus chief Ardian Gjini said that if rector Gashi does not resign, UP will be destroyed.
Minister of Education Ramë Buja said he was in favour of debate, but the Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi stated that the Assembly Presidency would take a decision on this issue this Monday. PDK MP Ramë Vata, who also chairs the Assembly Education Committee, said that the situation at UP was serious.
On the other hand, UP students continued their protest on Thursday, demanding rector’s resignation or dismissal. The UP Public Relations Office reacted against the protest, saying that blockage of the Rectorate is hindering students to apply for scholarships. Meanwhile, a symbolic group of students shifted their protest from the UP Rectorate to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MEST).
Roundtable on beggars issue held
(TV21, RTK1)
The number of beggars has been tremendously increased in all streets in Kosovo towns and cities, but authorities have no statistics about them. In a roundtable held in Prishtinë/Pristina on Thursday, humanitarian and social aspects of dealing with beggars were discussed. Experts said that this has turned to a concerning issue in Kosovo.
The roundtable participants called on citizens not to give charity, as that encourages begging.
