Headlines - 19.11.2016

• Prosecutors conclude Dehari committed suicide (dailies)
• Dehari’s autopsy observer claims report does not correspond to reality (Koha)
• Civil society calls for urgent reaction from human rights organizations (Koha)
• Haradinaj: Thaci responsible why Kosovo has no armed force yet (RTK) 

Kosovo Media Highlights

Prosecutors conclude Dehari committed suicide (dailies)

The prosecutors involved in investigating the death of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, in his prison cell in Prizren detention facility concluded that the deceased committed suicide. The autopsy report which Koha Ditore claims to have a copy of stated that Dehari’s death came as a result of “mechanical asphyxiation from the blockage of the upper respiratory tract” which was “self-inflicted.” Vetevendosje and Dehari’s family however rejected the authorities’ version of events saying it is not credible and incomplete.

Dehari’s autopsy observer claims report does not correspond to reality (Koha)

Medical expert, Hatixhe Latifi-Pupovci, who took part in the autopsy of the Vetevendosje’s activit Astrit Dehari, said in an interview for KTV that the findings of the autopsy report do not correspond to what was seen during the process. She said the Dehari’s  cause of death needs to be established by an independent expertise as the investigations so far have been flawed.

Civil society calls for urgent reaction from human rights organizations (Koha)

Kosovo civil society organizations have sent a letter to Transparency International, Human Rights Watch and Council of Europe claiming that human rights were violated in the case involving Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, who died in a detention facility. The civil society organizations say Dehari’s human rights were infringed for the fact that the justice system in Kosovo failed to guarantee his security while being deprived of freedom. Furthermore, contradictory information after his death from relevant rule of law institutions “systematically pre-empted the investigation process” which also represents a violation of the European Charter for Human Rights. The Kosovo civil society calls on the international human rights organizations to use their instruments to advocate against the abuse of justice in Kosovo.

Haradinaj: Thaci responsible why Kosovo has no armed force yet (RTK)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, accused President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, of being responsible why Kosovo has not armed force yet. Haradinaj said Thaci should have used the Serbian List’s support when the special court was established to transform the Kosovo Security Force into Kosovo Armed Forces but instead Thaci used this to strengthen his own power. Haradinaj also said that the only way to resolve the current political crisis in Kosovo is by heading to early elections.