EULEX accuses Minister of Justice of interfering in judiciary

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV) 

EULEX cancelled a meeting with Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi and other judiciary officials. EULEX’s decision came after the statements that Kuçi made regarding Sami Lushtaku’s sentencing in Drenica case, where he said that EULEX’s decision was absurd, and it would need to be amended by the Court of Appeals.

EULEX considered this statement as interference in judiciary by the politics.

“Such statements can be perceived as intimidation and political interference. Kosovo authorities must ensure that the judiciary receives proper support to adjudicate in a dispassionate environment. Following the statement by the Minister of Justice, today’s Joint Rule of Law Coordination Board (JRCB) meeting was postponed to a later date,” a EULEX press statement reads.

On the other hand, Kuçi told KTV that following this media announcement, he talked on the phone with EULEX Head Gabrielle Meucci and that it was a misunderstanding. 

“I just saw the announcement and I talked to EULEX Head. It was a misunderstanding that got clarified and cooperation continues as it was. We live in a free and democratic country where the independence of judiciary and freedom of speech are respected,” Minister Kuçi told KTV.

Online version of this TV broadcaster carried out a Twitter statement of the US Ambassador in Kosovo, Greg Delawie, who expressed his support to EULEX reaction against Kuçi. “US agrees: Kosovo authorities must ensure judiciary receives support to adjudicate in a dispassionate environment,” Ambassador Delawie stated. 

Two convicts in Medicus Case are believed to have fled Kosovo

(KTV) 

Doctor Lutfi Dervishi and his son Arban Dervishi are suspected of having fled Kosovo shortly before starting to serve their imprisonment sentence.

KohaVision learns that both them have fled by land from Kosovo shortly after the Court of Appeals confirmed them the sentence of eight years imprisonment for trafficking in human beings.

Kosovo Police does not know where Lutfi and Arban Dervishi are located. On the other hand, President of Prishtinë/Pristina Basic Court, Hamdi Ibrahimi, refused to tell KohaVision if they have issued an arrest warrant for them, or not.

Musa Dragusha proposed for PRB member

(KTV)

Musa Dragusha shall be the new proposed name for the Public Procurement Review Body (PPRB) Board. Government is expected to resubmit appointment of PPRB members to the Assembly on Friday.

Dragusha shall be a replacement for Agim Shala, after he did not manage to receive not even 100 points from the Kosovo Judicial Council selection committee. Others candidates will remain the same.

A dilemma is related to the names prosed persons from the Serb community, as the candidates proposed must have the completed jurisprudence and because of this they did not meet the criteria for entering the race for the place assigned for minorities.

Nine official vehicles damaged and burned

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

On Wednesday night, nine international and local official vehicles were burned and damaged in five towns of Kosovo.

Vehicle of the Special Prosecutor, Ali Rexha was set on fire in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica. He admits being threatened several times because of his work, but Prosecutor Rexha believes that torching of his vehicle is a continuity of recent attacks against official vehicles.

Except Mitrovicë/Mitrovica town, official vehicles of Kosovo institutions last night were set on fire in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Pejë/Pec, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë, and Malishevë/Malisevo.

Four EULEX vehicles were also damaged in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica after midnight. According to the Police, the perpetrators scratched these vehicles and broke their windows.

A group called ‘Unhappy Citizens’ claimed responsibility for these attacks. Police suspects that vehicles were burned by Molotov cocktails, but perpetrators of these attacks still remain unknown.

Kosovo Government strongly condemned these incidents. It urges relevant institutions to solve these criminal acts and bring perpetrators to law.

In the meantime, Police arrested a suspect for an earlier arson case. At the early hours of Thursday, Police arrested Vetëvendosje Movement activist – Alket Zeqiri.

He is suspected of burning the private vehicle of Kosovo Deputy Minister of Local Government, Bajram Gecaj. VV condemned the arrest and consider it as a set up. 

EU team of experts to assess fulfilment of visa criteria

(TV21)

An assessment mission of experts composed of four members from the EU member states and officials of the European Commission will visit Kosovo on Thursday and Friday to assess fulfillment of the final eight remaining visa liberalization. Kosovo authorities will present their arguments on fulfillment of visa liberalization criteria in meetings with this EU assessment mission.

During an interview with TV21, Kosovo minister of European integration Bekim Çollaku said he expects a positive assessment from this mission. He reiterated that Kosovo has fulfilled the eight additional criteria on visa liberalisation.

Çollaku said he is confident that Kosovars will move without visa over the course of this year.

Veseli meet with members of ad-hoc demarcation commission

(Klan Kosova&RTK1)

Members of the ad hoc commission of international experts, Fletcher Burton and Herbert Wilmes, who will evaluate the demarcation process between Kosovo and Montenegro, are visiting Kosovo.

On Thursday, these demarcation experts met Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli.

LDK MP Shpejtim Bulliqi, who opposed demarcation with Montenegro, told Klan Kosova they met with these two international experts on Thursday. He considers that Kosovo did not need international experts for this matter.

Izmaku: RTK budget should be similar to budgets of regional broadcasters

(RTK1)

Kosovo Assembly Committee on public administration, local government, and media met on Thursday to discuss amendment of the Law on RTK.  Prior to commencement of the meeting, Committee Chairperson Zenun Pajaziti announced that Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli has received a letter from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) regarding financing of RTK, and they should look into this letter before proceeding with the meeting.

The letter of EBU General Director Ingrid Deltenre addressed to Speaker Veseli, requested from the latter to find solutions regarding financing of RTK, and she offered concrete proposals on this issue, too.

On the other hand, Committee member Sadri Ferati said that the best option for RTK financing would be the pre-payment by citizens.

Xhevahire Izmaku, another member of Committee, explained that the EBU considers the budget for RTK should be between 17-20 million Euros, similar to the budgets that are allocated to the regional public broadcasters.

Court puts a terrorism suspect under one-month detention

(KTV)

Ferizaj/Urosevac Basic Court put the main suspect for financing terrorist groups in Kosovo, Fatos Rizvanolli, under one-month detention.

The detention measure is set to the suspect, F.R. for the criminal offences, recruitment for terrorism, organisation and participation in a terrorist group, incitement of hatred, division or national, racial, religious or ethnic intolerance and incitement to carry out criminal and terrorist offences, the Court’s release states. He was arrested on Wednesday in Prishtinë/Pristina.