Headlines - 07.11.2016

• No explanation behind Vetevendosje activist’s mysterious death in jail (media)
• Specialist prosecutor Schwendiman to visit Kosovo and Serbia (Express)
• Special court to start “hunting” beginning of 2017 (Zeri)
• Serbian List against elections, wants formation of Association (Koha)
• PDK MP Buja wants breakup of coalition with LDK (Zeri)
• Detained Islamic State suspects planned attacks in Balkans (media)

No explanation behind Vetevendosje activist’s mysterious death in jail (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that state authorities have yet to provide explanations behind the mysterious death of Astrit Dehari, a Vetevendosje activist who was in detention in Prizren. On Saturday, authorities said Dehari could have died as a result of medications he took, but on Sunday, no one mentioned the medicaments. Bota Sot quotes chief prosecutor, Syle Hoxha, as saying that Dehari had scratches on both his hands and on the right side of his neck. At least two sources told the paper that pieces of plastic and not medicaments were found inside Dehari’s throat. In a separate front-page article related to the issue, the paper reports that hundreds of citizens assembled in front of the National Theatre in Pristina on Sunday afternoon to light candles honoring Dehari. The family of the deceased said they would not burry their son until an autopsy is performed and they find out the truth behind their son’s death. Vetevendosje representatives meanwhile blamed the state for Dehari’s suspicious death. Vetevendosje leader Visar Ymeri told a press conference that Dehari was framed by the police and the prosecution. “The death of Astrit Dehari, although unexplained yet, is a direct responsibility of the state because Astrit died while he was in prison,” Ymeri added. Kosovo Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, reacted on Sunday saying that Dehari’s death needs to be explained in detail. Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and President Hashim Thaci have yet to react on the matter.

Specialist prosecutor Schwendiman to visit Kosovo and Serbia (Express)

The chief prosecutor of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, David Schwendiman, will visit Pristina and Belgrade between 7 and 11 November. According to a press release issued by Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, Schwendiman will underline his determination to fulfill his mandate independently, and reconfirm his and his interlocutors’ commitment to this process. He will not discuss any specific details related to the contents of the investigation. In Kosovo, Schwendiman will meet with representatives of the government, prosecution, EULEX Kosovo and the international community. In Belgrade, Schwendiman will meet with representatives of the government, the Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor and international officials.

Special court to start “hunting” beginning of 2017 (Zeri)

The paper reports in a front page story that the special court for war crimes will not start work before the agreement between Kosovo and the Netherlands regarding the court’s headquarters enters into force. However, everything will be clarified in the first half of 2017, when the court is expected to file the first indictments for war crimes. Meanwhile political analysts in Kosovo say that important political figures might be indicted by the special court. Avis Benes, spokesperson for Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, told the paper that currently judges and president of Specialist Chambers are being selected. “The process of the establishment of the Court is going according to the plan, there are no delays,” Benes said. According to her,  cooperation with Kosovo authorities was going very well.

Serbian List against elections, wants formation of Association (Koha)

At a time when there is increased talk about the possibility of early general elections in Pristina, Kosovo Serb representatives have opposed the idea. Belgrade-based B92 reported that the Serbian List, which has suspended its work in Kosovo’s institutions after the adoption of the Trepca Law, believes early elections are not a good solution. “Announcing early elections is losing time. We want the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities to be established as soon as possible. There are many issues and topics that we would like to address in order to create better living conditions for the Serb community in Kosovo,” Serbian List leader Slavko Simic said.

PDK MP Buja wants breakup of coalition with LDK (Zeri)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Shukri Buja, said on Sunday that the only solution to the current political situation in Kosovo is to break up the coalition with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and go to early elections. According to him, Kosovo should go to early elections because the government led by Isa Mustafa failed to improve economic development, to vote demarcation agreement with Montenegro and to establish the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. “The coalition was formed in order to pass some important processes, like the election of the president, the border demarcation and the Association. Only one of these was fulfilled,” Buja said.

Detained Islamic State suspects planned attacks in Balkans (media)

A Kosovo state prosecutor said on Sunday that seven Islamic State suspects detained last week were planning attacks in the Balkans and were receiving instructions from militants in Syria. Anti-terror police arrested seven men in three different towns on Friday and the group was subsequently jailed for 30 days pending further investigation by the court of first instance in Pristina. The seven suspects had contacts in neighboring countries, like the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania and other suspects from the same group are still at large. “The suspects were planning terror attacks in Kosovo and the Balkans. They were planning to attack various institutions, including security institutions,” the prosecution said.