Syla: I am innocent, I will cooperate with the judiciary (media)
Several media carry a statement by Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP and former KLA leader, Azem Syla, who was among the targets of a large-scale police operation launched by EULEX and the Kosovo Police on Wednesday. Syla is suspected to be the leader of an organized crime operation, composed of Kosovo and Serbian citizens, that is suspected to have appropriated socially-owned properties worth at an estimated €30 million. Police were not able to locate Syla on Wednesday and his attorney told the media that Syla is not in Kosovo but that he is ready to cooperate with the authorities. In his statement, Syla said he will very soon prove wrong the allegations made against him. Syla said: “With the greatest concern, I received the news today that EULEX Police and Kosovo Police raided my house early in the morning. I want to inform the public that until yesterday I was in the Republic of Kosovo performing all my public duties as member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo. I did not receive any order from state authorities and I was not aware of any investigation against me. Yesterday afternoon I travelled abroad on my own personal agenda. It is worth noting that during the raid on my house, I was in contact with the authorities in charge of the raid and I expressed my readiness to return to Kosovo and cooperate with the judiciary anytime they find it appropriate. I want to assure my family, friends, fellow comrades and all the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo that none of the allegations made against me are true, they are tendentious and ill-mannered. I am absolutely innocent and my innocence will be proved very soon by the judiciary. I have dedicated my whole life to the creation of the state of the Republic of Kosovo, therefore, I have strong faith in the judiciary of my country”.
EULEX and Kosovo Police searching for PDK MP Azem Syla (dailies)
The Kosovo Police and EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) arrested six people on Wednesday for organized crime activities that cost Kosovo budget 30 million euros. Former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander and Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Azem Syla, was a target of this police operation under the suspicion of being the leader of the criminal group involved in usurping and selling state property. However, the police could not locate Syla despite the efforts to contact him for days, media report. EULEX through a press statement announced that 350 police officers were deployed for this operation and raided 42 locations across Kosovo. According to the statement, the criminal group owned and managed properties in Kosovo worth 30 million euros for which they have used false documents and bribed officials. The charges against the defendants include organized crime, money laundering, abuse of official position, falsifying documents and giving and receiving bribes.
Mustafa returns from Brussels without visa liberalization (media)
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa met yesterday in Brussels with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Juncker congratulated Mustafa for the success achieved in the process of visa liberalization, but did not give any specific date for visa liberalization. Mustafa said that Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria and that it expects a fair decision from the EU. Kosovo European Integration Minister Bekim Collaku said the focus of this visit was to conclude the process of visa liberalization for Kosovo. Citing unnamed source, Pristina-based news portal Gazeta Blic reports that a positive decision on visa liberalization will be announced on 4 May.
Kosovo Assembly to meet today (Kosovapress)
Kosovo Assembly will hold its regular session today, after a short break. The MPs will discuss several topics, including voting for the election of members of the Independent Media Commission and RTK Board, election of the director and deputy director of the Regulatory Authority for Water Services, election of a member for the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council and election of members of the Advisory Board for Environmental Protection.
Sejdi Thaci, returned in Klina, was not a missing person (dailies)
Sejdi Thaci from the municipality of Klina, who was reported missing since January 1999, returned last week to his home alive. Thaci said on Wednesday that he went to Serbia at a time when the situation in Kosovo was not good. According to him, he returned to Kosovo voluntarily. He said he was not a missing person, thus, removing all dilemmas that there might be more missing persons alive in Serbia. After Thaci returned from Serbia alive, many people hoped that their loved ones, who went missing during the war, might be alive as well.
Freedom House: Kosovo marks slight increase on freedom of media (Epoka)
The most recent report of the “Freedom House” assesses that Kosovo is a partially free on the freedom of media. This organization has ranked Kosovo from the 100th in the list from last year, to the 96th place this year, with 52 points. According to this report, the level of the political rights has marked increase from 4 to 3, based on the functioning of the government established after 2014 elections proceeded after prolonged negotiations, which is an improvement compare to the previous elections. In the freedom of media, Kosovo is marked with 3.5 points, political rights 3, while on civilian rights 4. In the regions, Montenegro is ranked better than Kosovo (80), Croatia (84), Serbia (87), while Bosnia and Herzegovina (104), Albania (106) and FYROM (136), are ranked lower than Kosovo.
Vetevendosje election process starts on 2 May (Epoka)
The leader of the Vetevendosje movement, Visar Ymeri, announced on Wednesday that the internal elections of this party will start on 2 May and they will last three months. During the press conference Ymeri said that Vetevendosje will come out even stronger after this process. He appealed to the citizens, especially to those who are dissatisfied with the current government, to join Vetevendosje movement.
