Astrit Dehari died of asphyxiation

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Asphyxiation or difficulties in breathing are believed to have been the cause of death for Vetëvendosje activist, Astrit Dehari.

After almost three hours of expertise in the victim’s body, it was the Prizren Chief Prosecutor, Sylë Hoxha, who said that difficulties in breathing might have caused the death to the 26-year old. Nevertheless, the reasons that caused this asphyxiation are still unknown, and they will be known upon completion of the autopsy report.

Otherwise, Prizren Chief Prosecutor Sylë Hoxha denied that Dehari had consumed medicaments that lead to his death, thus confuting the Prizren Regional Police Director, Nexhmi Krasniqi.

On the other hand, legal representative of Dehari family, lawyer Tomë Gashi, said that in case it will be needed, the autopsy report will also be sent to England for further analysis.

Director of Kosovo Institute of Forensic Medicine, Arsim Gërxhaliu, confirmed that this Institution will prepare the Dehari’s autopsy report, and that doctors invited by the family were there only at the observers’ capacity.

Chief Prosecutor Sylë Hoxha said that so far no one has been arrested in relation to Dehari’s case, but investigations are underway and it is being work to the maximum in order to shed light on the case as soon as possible.

KTV also reported that Dehari will be buried on Tuesday. The protesting march for justice organised by the student organisations of University of Pristina will also be held on Tuesday noon. The march will start at the National Library building and it will continue to the National Theatre building, where homage will be paid.

Government of Kosovo and Members of Kosovo Assembly have requested independent investigation into this case. Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, has also requested transparency regarding this case.

Addressing Government’s meeting on Monday, Mustafa said: “I express my pain and sadness about the death of a young man in Prizren prison. I express my condolences and request from the institutions to investigate the case independently and find out what happened.”

Kurti: Astrit Dehari was violently murdered

(KTV- Interactive show) 

Vetëvendosje MP, Albin Kurti, spoke in KTV Interactive show about the death of this Movement’s activist, Astrit Dehari.

“We are in a state of shock. We are together with his family. There is great solidarity of all Albanians wherever they are, but also of internationals, because something that does not happen even in the most totalitarian regimes, when a young man dies in his cell, has happened” Kurti said.

Kurti reminded that it was stated earlier that a suicide was in question.

“The latest information we have is that he experienced a violent murder in his cell, and there is no suicide in question. After the autopsy, doctors, who observed it at all times, have reached a joint conclusion that no medicaments were the cause of his death, which would imply that his psycho-physical state was abnormal. Death came from suffocation with a strong device, and this strong device was a plastic bottle which was found in Astrit’s throat. It was of child bottles type, a strong one,” Kurti said.

“Doctors have told us they never came across such a case of suicide. Except this, Astrit has a scratch in his neck, in his hand, hematomas and a broken rib, and a wound in his head, in his forehead. Some things with blood have been found,” Kurti said among others.

He also said that statement of Police Commander Nexhmi Krasniqi that, who claimed that Dehari was sent to hospital in coma after he took medicaments, is scandalous.

Albin Kurti said that the cause for the death of the VV activist, Astrit Dehari, within Prizren prison is the authority in Kosovo.

Saying that he makes the authority responsible for this suspicious death, Kurti also said that Kosovo Police should not take Dehari’s case in its hands, but rather an international body.

PDK confirms names of its two new ministers

(RTK2, Klan Kosova) 

PDK MP Blerta Deliu-Kodra has been assigned to become the Minister of European Integration, while Ferat Shala, who was Deputy Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning until now, will take the lead of this Ministry.

Sources within PDK confirmed these two names to Klan Kosova as the two new ministers in Kosovo Government as part of its reshuffling process.   

Dacic: Kosovo’s attempt to join Interpol Executive Committee failed

(RTK2) 

Another attempt by Kosovo to join the Interpol Executive Committee has failed, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic stated on Monday.

“Although Kosovo had been preparing for months, sending notes to all member states, the Interpol General Assembly has rejected all requests to put on the agenda additional points on admission to membership,” a statement from the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Dacic as saying. 

Status of Association of Serb Majority Municipalities unclear

(Klan Kosova)

It is not being known if it is a nongovernmental organisation, or not. These doubts regarding the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities (ASMM) are being raised due to many competencies it has. These results also came out of the comments on the statute of this Association made by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung organisation. Furthermore, it was also stated that Constitutional Court made a mistake when it provided the possibility to propose laws to this Association.

“Association cannot be a representative of Serbs, it can take part in the Consultative Council for Communities operating under the Office of the President of Kosovo, and it can make its proposals there,” said Përparim Gruda, a professor of Constitutional Law.

The organisers of this roundtable are having doubts regarding Government’s silence to push this process forward. Nevertheless, Political Science professor Arben Qirezi has a response about this.

“The reason why the Kosovo Government does not implement this decision and why there are no consequences from implementation of this decision is because we simply deal with an inapplicable court decision,” Qirezi considers.

Other participants of the roundtable also have other dilemma regarding the statute of this Association.

“By the manner it was formulated, it turns out that if municipalities with Serb majority accept another municipality it can be part of the Association, otherwise, if it wants to be part with its self-initiative, then it cannot,” said the political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu.

Nevertheless, in this roundtable was stated that ASSM should also be permitted financing from Serbia for as long as the Association of Kosovo Municipalities is permitted to receive finance from foreign countries. 

Situation in Kosovo prisons not good

(Klan Kosova) 

Situation within prisons is not being considered as good by the European representatives present in Kosovo. Representatives of the European Commission raised their concerns regarding the corruption and smuggling which happens within Kosovo prisons. They also had other remarks related to violation of rights of prisoners.  

With the aim of improvement of situation within prisons a project, which aims to improve and defend the rights of this category, was presented on Monday.

“Three objectives are targeted in the framework of this project: Strengthening of protective measures which aim at provision of protection of the rights of prisoners; professionalization of prison staff and improvement of healthcare delivery,” stated Isabelle Servoz-Gallucci, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Prishtinë/Pristina.

The plan was welcomed by Head of Kosovo Prisons, Sokol Zogaj, who added that Kosovo Correctional Service is committed to guaranteeing of the rights of convicted persons in compliance with the international conventions.

On the other hand, Chairperson of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) Behxhet Shala said that the project is good in paper, but hardly applicable in Kosovo.

The project is part of the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” programme, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe.

Despite losses, Kosovo is not applying reciprocity on energy with Serbia

(KTV)

The Transmission System Operator and Electricity Market Operator (KOSTT) is hoping that the blockade created by the Serbian power transmission company “Elektromreze Srbije” (EMS) will be solved in two dates within the two remaining months of this year.

The first one is a meeting of 25 November called by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity – ENTSOE, where the blockade is expected to be discussed, KTV reported.

Whereas, the second, is related with a warning made by the Albania’s Transmission System Operator toward Serbia for the latter to remove the blockade for use of 400kV power line with Kosovo by 31 December.

KOSTT Chief Executive Officer, Mustafë Hasani, told KTV in an interview that in the technical aspect all the ENTSOE’s requests have been met, but continuation of this blockade is causing major problems for them.

According to him, the amount of losses within a year by the illegal use by Serbia amounts to 5 million euros, while with the agreement on energy, the Energy Secretariat has envisaged that Serbia will pay 14 million euros for 2014 and 2015, while for the earlier years to be settled through arbitrary.

CEO Hasani said that also have the reciprocity measure as one of their plans, but he says that this is way more complicated in the energy sector.

Hasani said that the moment that agreement on energy will enter into force, they will start investments in Kosovo north and secure the reserve megawatts.

Two terrorism suspects arrested

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Following an operation in three towns, Kaçanik/Kacanik, Viti/Vitina and Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Kosovo Police arrested two persons suspected of terrorism.

Upon Prosecutor’s order, they were put under 48-hour police detention