LDK insists for ballot recount in Prishtinë/Pristina
(KTV)
LDK is not going to sit back after the Supreme Court decision against ballot recount in Prishtinë/Pristina. The LDK Presidency convened one day after the count of conditional, by-mail, and special needs persons’ ballots that established Shpend Ahmeti as the winner.
Following a two-hour discussion, LDK high officials decided to follow legal ways against the election result, insisting that a recount must happen.
Gazmend Muhaxherri of LDK said that they were surprised by the fear of VV from recounting ballots. According to him, this is an additional reason to request ballot recount, because had they been sure for their victory, they would not object the recount.
As far as Istog/Istok is concerned, LDK believes that the overturn of Haki Rugova by Gani Dreshaj of AAK after the conditional ballot count, was a criminal process.
“Criminal structures stole identity of voters in Istog/Istok, they manipulated with citizens’ feelings, and sent 1,300 ballots by-mail from three different centres that are identical, and dead people voted,” Muhaxheri said.
LDK is waiting for the decision of the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) on the complaint filed in Istog/Istok case.
Muhaxheri said that LDK did not discuss Dragash/Dragas municipality case.
Later in the evening, the LDK candidate for Prishtinë/Pristina mayor Arban Abrashi thanked more than 41,000 voters who voted for him, and called for recount of all ballots, claiming that manipulation occurred in the process.
Trial against VV MPs on December 1
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
On Monday, VV MP Donika Kadaj-Bujupi did not leave her house, where she has been put under arrest since last week. But she and her colleague Albin Kurti broke the measure on Sunday, when they attended celebration for the VV victory in Prishtinë/Pristina and Prizren. Being aware that they broke the measure, Kadaj-Bujupi said they had a reason to do so.
“You know that we do not recognise this measure and this decision for two reasons: first, because the trial against us is completely political, just as it was the trial against four activists, who, being innocent, by the same judge have been sentenced to over 20 years imprisonment, in a completely politically fabricated trial, without a single evidence,” she said.
The trial session against her, Albin Kurti, Albulena Haxhiu, and Faton Topalli has been scheduled to take place on 1st December; but Kadaj-Bujupi says that they will never voluntarily show up at trial sessions.
“We do not have any issue with the law; on the contrary, all our actions were taken in line with the Constitution and in service of interests of the country. All actions that we as elected MPs took in the Assembly room aimed to protect the Republic from the danger coming from the two agreements, namely Association and Demarcation,” Kadaj-Bujupi said.
The Prishtinë/Pristina Basic Court has not taken any decision concerning break of house arrest by VV MPs.
Later in the evening, KTV reported that Albin Kurti and Donika Kadaj-Bujupi were arrested and sent to detention on Monday evening. Police confirmed the arrest, and the Court officials said they ordered the arrest, because the MPs did not stick to the house arrest conditions.
VV reacted to the arrest, accusing Prime Minister Haradinaj of subduing to the Pronto Clan.
“The arrest of MPs is unjust, and an obvious manifestation of the political persecution against Vetëvendosje Movement through the order and justice authorities that have been captured by the Pronto Clan protagonists. The special war against our MPs is a surrender of the current Government of Ramush Haradinaj to the agenda of earlier governments of Hashim Thaçi and Isa Mustafa, that are remembered for a continuous violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. This Government is more and more proving that it is an extension of the captured state,” VV statement reads.
EU and EULEX refute Simmon’s allegations
(RTK1)
The recent allegations addressed by former President of EULEX Judges Malcolm Simmons, have been refuted by the EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policies, Maja Kocijancic, as well as by EULEX.
In her response to RTK, Kocijancic said that Simmons had never addressed those allegations before autumn this year.
However, new facts which RTK got hold of prove that the irregularities had been identified earlier. At least in 2016, Simmons reported in details to the Head of Mission Alexandra Papadopoulou on serious irregularities and manipulation in the Drenica 2 case. In this report, Simmons expressed his willingness to testify at Supreme Court. Also in 2016, Simmons reported to the Head of Mission about the pressure put on judges by the EULEX senior management. Finally, Simmons requested from Papadopoulou to initiate a comprehensive and independent investigation.
Papadopoulou’s reply to Simmon’s email clearly suggests him to report the irregularities to Brussels, so that investigation on the allegations begins immediately.
RTK asked both EULEX and EU to provide details of the investigation on accusations against Simmons of abuse, but they did not provide any detail, except the statement that the process has started, accusing Simmons of reluctance to collaborate.
Simmons has stated that he is still willing to collaborate and give testimony on case irregularities.
Opposition parties to cooperate in bringing down Government
(KTV)
LDK with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa was brought down by a no-confidence motion; likewise LDK intends to bring down Ramush Haradinaj and Kadri Veseli. A few days ago, Avdullah Hoti of LDK said that this possibility was open. LDK believes that Haradinaj Government will have a short life, but if the Government doesn’t resign, they will bring it down with a motion.
LDK will enjoy VV support in this endeavour, but the latter says that initially it likes to challenge the Government with big issues and investigative committees, prior to bringing it down. This was stated by Albulena Haxhiu of VV.
However, Artan Murati of Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) thinks that cooperation between the two opposition parties will be difficult, especially now that their relations have been aggravated after the local election process.
VV is determined to challenge Prime Minister Haradinaj’s AAK and Limaj’s Nisma, by asking their signatures for investigation of SHIK (Kosovo Intelligence Service).
