Today’s protest called by Vetevendosje and supported by other opposition parties has turned violent after the police tried to disperse protesters with teargas to prevent the crowds from approaching the government building. At present, Kosovapress reports that the protest has worsened, with a major clash occurring between the police and protesters in front of the Ministry of Culture building at Mother Theresa Square. The police are continuing to use teargas while the protesters are throwing stones at them. Koha reports that the police have now resorted to the use of water cannons to disperse protesters. It also reports that the protesters are throwing Molotov cocktail at the police. KALLXO.com writes that the protest has moved to the square’s adjacent streets making it difficult for the police to control the protesters.
Earlier, the media reported that, after the police initially dispersed the crowds using teargas, the protesters tried to reach the Skenderbeu square in front of the Kosovo government building through a backstreet.
KTV reports that the head of Vetevendosje’s parliamentary group, Visar Ymeri, has been injured in the protest and was taken to the Pristina hospital for treatment. KALLXO.com reported that there is an increasing number of people seeking medical attention for injuries sustained during the protest. At the same time, Zeri writes that several police officers have also been injured in the protest after stones were thrown at them. Kosovapress reports that none of the people admitted in the hospital are seriously injured. Most recent reports suggest 35 police officers have so far been injured in the protest.
The protest is being held to pressure the government to sack Communities and Returns Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, who caused anger earlier this month when he called Albanians who blockaded Serb pilgrims visiting a church in Gjakova/Djakovica at Orthodox Christmas “savages”. As well as the sacking of Jablanovic, protesters were calling for the Trepca mine complex, the subject of dispute between Pristina and Belgrade, to be taken under Kosovo state control.
