Thaçi impacts decision for keeping Limaj in detention (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Hashim Thaçi and his political party were wrong to think that by attacking the judiciary they would help Fatmir Limaj. The paper notes that their statements for reviewing competencies of EULEX were used as an additional argument to keep Limaj and his fellow combatants in detention.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Kosovo turned down the defense’s complaints against the decision by the head of Pristina District Court to keep Limaj and his fellow combatants in detention. The Supreme Court confirmed the one-month detention measure for Naser Krasniqi, Nexhmi Krasniqi, Naser Shala and Fatmir Limaj. The Judicial Body of the Supreme Court evaluated that there is grounded suspicion that the defendants have committed crimes for which they are accused.

The Hague to announce decision on Haradinaj case today (dailies)

All dailies report that the ICTY will announce its verdict on the Haradinaj case today. Koha Ditore notes in its report that after more than six years, the trial of the former KLA commander is expected to end on Thursday. Citizens from all over Kosovo have been invited by the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and several organizations to gather in Skënderbeu square in Pristina to follow the decision of the court which will be announced at 9:00 hrs. Haradinaj and his fellow combatants are charged of committing crimes against humanity as members and leaders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army.

Nice: Even non-punishment of all defendants is proof of justice (Koha)

Koha Ditore runs an interview with former ICTY High Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice, on the eve of the Tribunal’s verdict in the Ramush Haradinaj case. “I understand that evidence in the second trial of the Haradinaj case were not substantially different from evidence against Haradinaj in the first trial. It will be interesting to see if the Court can find something different in the evidence from what was presented in the first trial. If the Court finds that Haradinaj is innocent on all charges for the second time, this will be complete innocence after several years spent in detention,” Nice was quoted as saying.

Daci says he’s ready to run for the post of president (Express)

Express runs an interview with Nexhat Daci, leader of the Democratic League of Dardania (LDD) and former Parliament Speaker. Daci said he is confident that his party is functioning well. He said he was not willing to give up LDD to anyone, but is ready to cooperate with LDK leader Isa Mustafa, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Ramush Haradinaj’s Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). Daci said he sees himself as the last rider of modern politics in Kosovo. He also said he is ready to run for the post of President of Kosovo.

Police with double standards against protesters (Koha)

The paper writes that the Kosovo Police did not intervene to end the protest two days ago of the former KLA fighters demanding release of Fatmir Limaj though during Vetëvendosje protests the police forces have completely different attitude.

During the protests of Vetëvendosje Movement, the police are known to use teargas, pepper spray and even rubber batons while in the recent protest at the site that was supposed to see the inauguration of the Pristina-Vërmica highway the police special units only stood by and did not intervene to disperse demonstrators most of whom former members of the KLA.