LDK offices attacked in several Kosovo towns
(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
On Saturday night, unknown persons broke the windows of LDK headquarters in Prishtinë/Pristina and windows of this party’s offices in ‘Kodra e Trimave’ neighbourhood in the capital, same as the windows of its branch offices in Gjakovë/Djakovica, Pejë/Pec, Istog/Istok and Mitrovicë/Mitrovica towns.
In an interview with RTK, LDK Presidency member Arban Abrashi said these are acts of people, who are trying to plunge Kosovo into chaos and anarchy. Abrashi said that according to information they have at disposal, these attacks were carried out by masked men. He also said that that these attacks are being carried with aim to blackmail and intimidate this political entity. He refuted voices that these attacks might be associated with dissatisfaction of LDK supporters after MPs of this political entity voted in favour of Hashim Thaçi for President.
Kosovo Police report states that this Institution is investigating all attack cases on LDK offices.
In the meantime, PDK stated that ‘burning of PDK and LDK offices in a civic democracy are direct signals of an attempt to blackmail and come into power through force by a failed political segment’.
Vetëvendosje chairperson Visar Ymeri refuted LDK and PDK accusations, KTV reported. According to him, LDK provoked the reaction of its supporters with the support it gave to Hashim Thaçi.
Opposition contests the way Thaçi got elected
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Unified opposition remains determined to continue with its protests, as a political instrument for opposing the two disputed agreements and for bringing Mustafa -Thaçi Government down.
Vetëvendosje chairperson Visar Ymeri said that opposition contests the way how Thaçi was elected as President of Kosovo, both in the political and legal aspect. He did not rule out the possibility for addressing Thaçi’s election to the Constitutional Court.
Ymeri criticized the arrest and house arrests for opposition MPs, as well as seizing of their tents by Kosovo Police at “Skënderbeu” square.
Djuric: Srpska List MPs did not vote in Thaçi’s favour
(KTV)
Marko Djuric, Director of Serbia’s Government Office for Kosovo, refuted that Srspka List voted for election of Hashim Thaçi’s as Kosovo President.
Djuric said that Srpska List MPs were present in the Assembly room, as, according to him, they could not be out in the street with Vetëvendosje protesters. Nevertheless, according to him, they did not cast their votes to Thaçi. He highlighted that decision of Srpska List to be in the Assembly of Kosovo was theirs, as the Serbian Government will not influence their decision.
He also refuted reports that he met with Thaçi in a restaurant in Prishtinë/Pristina, before he was elected as the President of Kosovo.
Jahjaga decreed the agreement on Special Court
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
The outgoing President Atifete Jahjaga has decreed the Agreement on establishment of Special Court, which has entered in force in 4 February this year. The international agreement between the Kosovo and the Kingdom of Netherlands has been published on the Official Gazette.
This document was signed by Hashim Thaçi, at the capacity of foreign minister, while on behalf of the Netherlands it was signed by the Dutch Ambassador in Prishtinë/Pristina, Gerrie Willems.
In an interview with RTK1, Ehat Miftaraj a researcher in the Kosovo Law Institute said that with this decree Kosovo fulfilled an international obligation. He expects to see first indictments be filed at the end of this year, or at the beginning of the next one.
Media and civil society face challenges in accessing public documents
(KTV)
Access to public continues to be a challenge for civil society and media. They say that, although this is provided by law, institutions of Kosovo do not grant them the right to access official information, adding that this proves that these institutions are not transparent.
Director of researches in GAP Institute, Jeton Mehmeti, told KTV that they often had to address courts for this reason. He said that although the Law guarantees access to official information, it is not being implemented.
Fitim Gashi, a journalist among many who are sharing the same concern, agreed with Mehmeti’s opinion.
Kosovo Government said they are making the necessary changes to the Law on access to public documents, as the EU has requested this.
However, jurists say that only its implementation was requested. Instead of amending the Law, they said that Office of Kosovo Prime Minister should make the work of Ombudsperson easier, by supporting, respecting and co-operating with this Institution.
Inspectorate suspends three KP officers in the north
(RTK2)
On Saturday, Kosovo Police Inspectorate ordered suspension of three police officers in the north, Police announced.
Police informed that two traffic police officers and a border police officer are suspected of receiving and attempting to receive money from two citizens.
One of the suspended officers is the brother of traffic police commander in Kosovo north, RTK2 reported.
