UNMIK Headlines 5 August
Explosive device thrown at Kosovo parliament building, no casualties (media)
An explosive device was thrown at Kosovo's parliament building on Thursday evening, causing damage to the building but no injuries. Several media reported that two motorcyclists fired a rocket propelled grenade as they drove near the parliament building. After the explosion, a special police unit sealed off the area around the parliament. International media are reporting that the blast comes amid tensions over a border demarcation deal that the government has reached with Montenegro. Kosovo Police through a press statement confirmed the attack. “On Thursday evening around 23:00hrs the building of the Kosovo Assembly was attacked from distance with a suspected explosive device, causing material damage but no one was injured.” The police added they were working in identifying the suspects involved in the case. Koha reports that the motorcycle used in the attack was found completely burnt in one of Pristina neighbourhoods.
Mustafa: No one will be allowed to terrorise state institutions (Koha)
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, took to Facebook to condemn last night’s blast saying it represented an attack on independence of Kosovo. “The Assembly is the highest legislative body, a symbol of our state and democratic order. No one will be allowed to terrorise institutions of our state,” Mustafa wrote.
AAK condemns attack at the Kosovo Assembly (Koha)
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) reacted against last night’s attack in the direction of the Assembly, calling it a criminal act. “Thursday’s evening event in Pristina is a criminal act, which requires urgent actions to solve the case. The attack on the building of the Assembly is an attack on the state and democracy, it is an attack on all the citizens. Whoever is behind this act, is against Kosovo and its citizens,” reads the press statement issued by the AAK. “The AAK strongly condemns this criminal act and urges the law enforcement authorities to do all that is in their hands, so that the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice.”
Civil society to protest today in Pristina (Indeksonline)
Several civil society organisations announced a protest on Friday at 18:00 against organized crime and corruption. The protest is organized following the recent publications of telephone conversations between the senior officials of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, reportedly linking them to illegal activities. The protest is also supported by Vetëvendosje Movement.
Indictment filed against Klina Mayor Sali Bashota (dailies)
Kosovo’s special prosecution announced yesterday that it has filed an indictment against four defendants for abuse of official position or authority. Media report that the Mayor of Klina, Sali Bashota, is amongst the accused.
Montenegrin authorities arrest man wanted for war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)
Montenegro police arrested on Thursday a man in connection to war crimes committed in Kosovo in 1999. The man in question is wanted by the war crimes court in Belgrade for his alleged role in the killing of seven Albanian civilians in the village of Zhegra, Gjilan/Gnjilane municipality.