The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo Ruairi O’Connell, said that he believes on the EULEX conclusions however he added that if there is any new evidence, then the case has to continue with investigations. “It is a tragedy under all circumstances, and under the ones that it happened, it is very serious. The investigation should have commenced in a very transparent manner and with a special caution.
Faton Abdullahu, adviser to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, said on Wednesday that the case of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari who died in Prizren detention center has diverted the attention from the attack on the Kosovo Assembly building a few months ago. Abdullahu said that in the case of the attack on the Assembly there was no petition or requests for extraordinary sessions to condemn the act.
Vetevendosje parliamentary group chief, Glauk Konjufca, told KTV on Wednesday that the autopsy report does not say that Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, who was found dead in his cell at Prizren Detention Center, had committed suicide. “The autopsy report does not say it was suicide. Not a single part of the report mentions suicide,” Konjufca added.
The opposition parties' MPs could not secure enough votes during the Assembly plenary session today to call for an extraordinary session to discuss the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari in Prizren detention center. The ruling coalition partners said they were against holding of the extraordinary session on Dehari case prior to the publication of final results of the investigation. “I don’t think now is the time to vote, now is the time for justice.
Civil society representatives today submitted a petition to the Kosovo Assembly, calling for an extraordinary session of Assembly to discuss the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari in Prizren’s detention center. The petition which includes around 25 thousand signatures of Kosovo citizens, urges to shed light on Dehari’s death, and calls for the resignation of the Justice Minister, Dhurata Hoxha.
On the Albanian Flag Day, a large red and black banner depicting Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari and calling for justice regarding his death at the Prizren detention facility, was put up in one of the buildings at the Pristina center. Vetevendosje leader, Visar Ymeri, said that this year, 28 November will be dedicated to Dehari. Ymeri said Dehari was much more than a son and a political activist. “Astrit today is the truth of this state and political regime installed in the Republic of Kosovo,” Ymeri said.
Citizens have begun signing a petition calling for an extraordinary session of the Kosovo Assembly to discuss the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari in Prizren’s detention facility. The petition, launched following a protest under the slogan “Justice for Astrit”, calls for an independent investigation and hierarchical dismissal of all officials responsible for Dehari’s death. “We need to put more pressure on institutions. We have to insist justice is served,” said Besa Luzha, civil society activist.
The Ministry of Justice issued a press release saying its inspectorate identified “procedural negligence” on the part of Prizren detention facility staff in dealing with the death of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, but did not find any action by the prison staff that could have caused his death. As a result of these findings, the ministry has initiated disciplinary procedures against three correctional service officials as well as the acting director, all of whom have been suspended.
Parents of Astrit Dehari, Vetevendosje activist who died whilst in detention, said in a statement issued today that they refuse an international investigation into their son’s death for as long as Minister of Justice Dhurata Hoxha and Interior Minister Skender Hyseni remain in their posts. Avni and Xhemile Dehari said that the request Minister Hoxha made to the British police to assist in carrying out an investigation is an admission of responsibility of the government and Kosovo institutions to solve the case.
Syle Hoxha, chief prosecutor at the Basic Prosecution in Prizren, told the news website that the preliminary autopsy report for Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari, who was recently found dead in yet-unresolved circumstances in jail, will be available by the end of the week. “We are waiting for the autopsy results and the expertise from the forensics lab. We are expecting the preliminary results by the end of the week … We are also very close to collecting evidence and other facts related to the case,” Hoxha said.