VV blames the state for Dehari’s death

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

State Prosecution considers the death of Vetëvendosje activist, Astrit Dehari in the detention center in Prizren as suspicious.  Basic Prosecution in Prizren says that they have collected evidence, including those in the detention cell where Dehari was kept, as material evidence of this case.  Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, expressing his condolences to the family, urged respective institutions to shed light on this case, as soon as possible.

Chief Prosecutor in Prizren, Sylë Hoxha told KTV that autopsy results might reveal the real cause of Dehari’s death. Hesaid that Dehari was sent to the Health Centre in Prizren in serious health condition. But the Director of this Centre, Afrim Avdaj confirmed that Dehari had already passed away when he arrived at the hospital, noting that Dehari’s lifeless body had scratches in hands and neck.

However, Kosovo Police Director for Prizren region, Nexhmi Krasniqi had stated that due to an overdose of medicaments, Astrit Dehari had fallen in coma and passed away while being transported to the health center.

Due to the controversial statement of these institutions, Dehari’s family requested the presence of independent and neutral doctors that shall be selected by the family, during the autopsy process.

In the evening hours of Sunday, Kosovo Justice Minister, Dhurata Hoxha, in a press conference staged in Prizren, confirmed that she is awaiting the names of experts from Dehari’s family that will take part in the autopsy. However, she requested to leave it to the justice institutions to deal with this case.

But Vetëvendosje leadership, say that experts from Albania or Switzerland will take part in the autopsy.  Vetëvendosje, in an extraordinary press conference on Sunday, considered the state as responsible for death of its activist while it requested the release of two other activists which are being held in detention centers in Pejë/Pec and Lipjan/Lipjlane.

“The death our activists Astrit Dehari, is a direct responsibility of the state because Astrit died while being kept in prison,” said VV chairperson Visar Ymeri.

VV’s organisational secretary Dardan Molliqaj clarifying the circumstances, in which the detainees are kept, questioned the alleged cause of death, saying that Dehari could not have died due an overdose of medicaments.  Molliqaj said that Dehari made all the examinations just few days ago which showed that he did not had any health issues.

The Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF), opposition parties, Nisma and AAK have requested from institutions to clarify the circumstances of Dehari’s death as soon as possible.

Dehari was being investigated under the suspicion that he and five other activists, had planned, organized and executed the attack against the building of Kosovo Assembly on 04 August.

VV MPs visited detention centres

(Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Ministry of Justice (MJ) granted permission to Vetëvendosje (VV) MPs Donika Kadaj – Bujupi and Albulena Haxhiu to visit the Detention Centres in Pejë/Pec, Prizren and Lipjan/Lipljane, Klan Kosova reported.

“During their visits in the Detention Centre in Pejë/Pec, MPs received the opinions of detainees about their treatment,” reads a press release of the Ministry of Justice.

MJ in its release emphasized that the visits in detention centers should not have any political motives.

“There is a standard procedures for Assembly Committees’ to visit the detention centers, but since Ministry of Justice is committed to ensure maximal transparency of the process, it approved the individual requests of MPs”, concludes the release.

Schwendiman to visit Kosovo and Serbia

(RTKlive)

The Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court, David Schwendiman, will visit Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade on 07-11 November, the online version of RTK reported.

In Prishtinë/Pristina, Schwendiman in will meet with representatives of the Government, State Chief Prosecutor, officials of EULEX and representatives of the international community.  However, he will not discuss concrete details in relation to the investigations.

Suspected ISIS members plotted attacks in Kosovo

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

A court imposed 30-days detention measures to seven persons that were are arrested on Friday under the suspicion that they are members of the terrorist organization ISIS.

Bujar Brahimi, Visar Ibishi, Liridon Morina and Burim Istrefi from Mitrovicë/Mitroivca, Leotrim Musliu from Skënderaj/Srbica and Kenan Plakaj from Ferizaj/Urosevac are suspected of committing the criminal act: “Preparations of terrorist acts against Kosovo’s Constitutional order and security”.

According to the Prosecution, the seven terrorism suspects had carried out their terrorist activity for a long period of time, and according to the Prosecution, if the suspects are released they might try to escape.

Moreover, Prosecution’s request, says that Bujar Brahimi partook in terrorism activities within ISIS ranks and during September and October of this year, according to the instructions received by self-declared commander of Albanians in Iraq and Syria, Lavdërim Muhaxheri had planned attacks across Balkans with the first ones to be carried out in Kosovo.

“Seven detains had contacts in the neighboring countries as in FYROM and Albania while other suspects remain at large,” the request of State Prosecution reads.

“They had prepared terrorist attacks across the Balkans, but firstly in Kosovo. They planned to attack different buildings, including security institutions, aiming to intimidate citizens’, destabilize the situation and destroy the basic political, constitutional, economic and social structures in order to establish in the Islamic State ” prosecution said.

But lawyer, Nasuf Hasani refuses these claims, and says that Prosecution launched investigations against his client only few hours after he was arrested.

On Friday, the Anti-terror police unit arrested the seven suspects in three different municipalities.

KCSF: Only 1,500 active NGOs in Kosovo

(RTV21&KlanKosova)

Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) published Civil Society Index 2016. This report demonstrates that civil society in Kosovo had an essential impact in democratization of the country.

According to this report, over 60 % of the organizations of this sector have no funds or little funds.

The report pointed out one of the main issues that this sector faces, namely the lack of non-governmental organizations in smaller municipalities.  The report revealed that there are over 8,500 registered NGOs in Kosovo while only 1,500 are actives.