The Basic Court in Pristina has sentenced Vahide Badivuku, prosecutor in Mitrovica, to three years in prison for accepting bribes under article 428 of the Kosovo’s Criminal Code. Badivuku has also been fined with 5,000 euros and banned from public service for a period of three years. Two other persons involved in Badivuku’s case were also found guilty by the court for trading in influence and co-perpetration of the criminal offense.

Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa said that no truck from Serbia will be allowed entrance to Kosovo without an agreement being reached first. As to the announced visit of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to Kosovo, Mustafa did not say whether permission was granted.

The Embassy of the United States has issued a statement welcoming the findings of the ad-hoc commission set up by President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga to review the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro which confirmed that the process was in line with international norms. “We concur with the Commission’s call for the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Montenegro to take steps to improve border management and strengthen cooperation.

The National Council for the Survivors of Sexual Violence during the war today held its closing meeting and presented the work of the Council on victims of sexual violence during the war. At the meeting chaired by President Atifete Jahjaga it was discussed, among other things, the application of the legal rights of these victims and their access to justice. Jahjaga said that Kosovo institutions have demonstrated commitment to fight the stigmatization of these victims.

Officials from the cabinet of the Kosovo minister without portfolio and chief negotiator in the EU-facilitated dialogue with Belgrade, Edita Tahiri, said that authorities in Serbia are expected to begin recognising education diplomas issued in Kosovo as of 1 April. Arjeta Rexha, advisor to Tahiri, said that in the recent negotiations in Brussels the parties pledged to begin implementation of agreements reached five years ago on mutual recognition of diplomas. Rexhaj explained that all outstanding diplomas will be recognised by relevant authorities within a three-month timeframe.

The government of Kosovo issued a press release saying that today’s planned opposition protest in Vushtrri against the creation of the Serb-majority municipality of Prilluzhe is based on an untrue cause. The Government insisted it never discussed the creation of such a municipality with anyone and accused the opposition parties of “fabricating causes for political gains” in an attempt to polarize the society and destabilize Kosovo.

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister Bekim Collaku met today with the EU Special Representative and head of EU Office in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar and discussed preparations for the upcoming visit of EU experts for the assessment of the visa liberalization criteria implementation. Collaku said relevant Kosovo institutions are well-prepared to address all concerns of the EU experts.

Unemployment, corruption, poverty remain the main problems in Kosovo whereas the education system is considered to be plagued by nepotism, corruption and negligence, said FOL think tank representatives today during the presentation of their recent poll. According to FOL, this was the first time they conducted a poll on perception of corruption in the field of education. The poll involved 400 respondents from five municipalities in Kosovo, majority of whom said they believed the government was the most corrupt institution.

The news agency reports that the Serb orthodox church, which was constructed in the yard of Pristina University after the abrogation of Kosovo’s autonomy, was supported and funded by the political party of Serbian war criminal Zeljko Raznjatevic – Arkan. The news agency has published a video depicting Arkan, who was notorious for war crimes committed in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, attending the construction of the church together with his associates.

Kosovo’s Interior Minister Skender Hyseni said the Kosovo Police is pursuing several clear leads regarding the recent Molotov cocktail attacks on the government institutions and vehicles. Hyseni did not give any more details due to the ongoing investigations but noted that the use of violence as a means to an aim is unacceptable.