• Four police officers arrested over incident in the north (media)
• “Kosovo, largest fiscal package to help citizens cope with increased prices” (media)
• Reporter Valon Syla physically assaulted by unknown persons (Koha)
• Photo gallery: 24th Anniversary of Blace Exodus (Prishtina Insight)
• SRSG Ziadeh met Vucic in Belgrade on Tuesday (media)
• Begaj and Escobar discuss situation in Western Balkans (Albanian Daily News)
• Politicians and public targeted in online intimidation cases (BIRN)

Four police officers arrested over incident in the north (media)

Kosovo Police have suspended four police officers believed to have been involved in an incident on April 10 in the north where a member of the Serb community was wounded. Several hours earlier before the decision, police denied involvement in the case.

Police issued the following statement on Tuesday: Regarding the case that happened in the late hours of 10.04.2023 in the north of the country, where a person was injured by a firearm, the Kosovo Police, has continued intensive investigations with relevant police units from the regional and central levels, with the aim of the investigation and clarification of this case as soon as possible.

As a result of continuous investigations and engagements of police units at the scene, as well as as a result of the examination of the provided evidence, it has been possible to obtain evidence that shows the suspicions of the possible involvement of a police officer in the shooting.

Based on the information and evidence provided, suspension measures were taken against the police officer, since he had not reported about the case and about his involvement in the case, therefore the KP had issued a notice that it was not involved in the exchange or shooting with firearms. Suspension measures have also been taken against three other officials for eventual involvement in the case.

Therefore, in order to continue to keep the public informed about the police actions and the findings of the official investigations, the Kosovo Police, according to the foreseen legal procedures, immediately notified the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo and the competent Prosecutor's Office for further criminal procedures.

The Kosovo Police will continue to perform official duties in accordance with legal authorizations, keep the public informed in a fair and impartial manner, regardless of who is involved in the case and under no circumstance will act otherwise, only according to the legislation in force.

At the same time, the Kosovo Police will cooperate closely with the Police Inspectorate and the State Prosecutor's Office, in order to continue to hold responsible police officers, who do not comply and act according to the highest ethical and professional standards.

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said on Tuesday that four police officers were arrested and put in 48-hour detention following the incident in the north. Svecla wrote in a Facebook post: “Following the first information about the wounding of a citizen on the road between Leposavic/Leposaviq and Zvecan/Zveçan, Kosovo Police and the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo have started intensive investigations. According to the first investigations, after the police officers signalled the driver to stop, the driver did not stop but continued driving towards Zvecan/Zveçan. Following this, a police officer shot at the direction of the vehicle as a consequence of which citizen M. J. was wounded. After they were interviewed by the Police Inspectorate and upon the decision of the prosecutor, four police officers have been arrested and have been put in 48-hour detention under the suspicion that three police officers had not reported the case and one police officer did not report the case and his involvement in it. On the same day, upon the recommendation of the Police Inspectorate, they have been suspended from Kosovo Police. Aiming to shed light on all the circumstances, investigations will continue intensively and anyone that has conducted violations will face the law”.

United States Ambassador in Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday that “the U.S. is concerned about an incident in which a Kosovan Serb was shot in Zvecan/Zveqan last night. Kosovo Police officials and institutions must conduct a thorough, credible investigation. We are deeply concerned by the initial denial made without due diligence”. Hovenier also wrote “all citizens must have confidence in the transparency of law enforcement and the justice sector. U.S. support for Kosovo’s rule of law institutions advances a shared vision of a democratic, multiethnic state. Those responsible for criminal actions must be held accountable.”

The European Union Office in Kosovo said in a Twitter post on Tuesday: “The EU in Kosovo condemns the security incident in which a Kosovo Serb was shot and injured last night nearby the Kosovo Police checkpoint at the Bistrica bridge in Zvečan/Zveçan municipality. All relevant rule of law institutions now need to carry out a quick and thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice.”

The OSCE Mission to Kosovo too condemned the shooting incident: “The Mission calls upon all relevant institutions to conduct a thorough and credible investigation into what took place and to ensure that those responsible for such violence are indeed held to account. This is essential for ensuring a safe and secure environment for all,” the OSCE Mission to Kosovo wrote on Twitter.

The Serbian List strongly condemned the wounding by what they called Kurti’s special forces and demanded the immediate withdrawal of all special police units from the north of Kosovo.

“Kosovo, largest fiscal package to help citizens cope with increased prices” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti took to Twitter on Tuesday to say that “a World Bank report shows that Kosovo had the largest fiscal package in the region (as a % of GDP) to help its citizens cope with increased food and energy costs in 2022. As a government devoted to improving the welfare of all, we are happy to have our work recognized by leading international organisations.”

Reporter Valon Syla physically assaulted by unknown persons (Koha)

Reporter Valon Syla was physically assaulted on Tuesday evening in Pristina by three unknown persons. Syla suffered injuries to the head and received medical treatment at the Kosovo University Clinical Centre. Police have initiated investigations.

The assault against Syla has alarmed the community of journalists. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) said the attack was fully unacceptable and is a serious effort to impede and undermine the freedom of speech and the freedom of the media in Kosovo. The AJK also called for urgent measures to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

President of the Kosovo Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, reacted to the assault saying that it is a serious violation of the freedom of press and human rights and that such cases cannot be tolerated in a democratic society. “They [reporters] have guaranteed rights in the Constitution and the laws of our country to carry out their professional duty without fear or censorship or foreign pressure. Attacks against them are a crime that does not correspond with our Albanian culture and tradition,” he said.

Photo gallery: 24th Anniversary of Blace Exodus (Prishtina Insight)

Kosovo commemorates the 24th anniversary of the exodus of Albanians from all over Kosovo to the border villages in North Macedonia, during the war of 1999. Prishtina Insight brings a photo gallery of that time.

On the 24th anniversary of the exodus of Kosovo Albanians towards North Macedonia and Albania, following the intensification of fights in Kosovo, the Association for the Return of Albanians Displaced from their Land organised a commemorative event in Bllace, North Macedonia.

The association awarded 24 municipalities, local communities, humanitarian associations, non-governmental organizations and mediums from North Macedonia, which have helped Kosovar refugees during the 1998-99 war.

To commemorate the event, photographer Asllan Krasniqi opened an exhibition with 24 photographs of the “Exodus 99” from Bllaca, Stenkoci and Çegrani.

During the war in Kosovo in 1999, around 360,000 people (equivalent to 16 percent of the country’s population) sought refuge in North Macedonia. Nearly all departed the country the same year.

Their return from the refugee camps in North Macedonia began after the entry of NATO troops in Kosovo in June 1999.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3ZVwxcw

SRSG Ziadeh met Vucic in Belgrade on Tuesday (media)

The United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said in a Twitter post on Tueday that “SRSG Ziadeh met with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade today, as part of regular consultations ahead of #UNSC on Kosovo”. “She stressed the importance of maintaining constructive engagement + turning political commitments into concrete actions to benefit all people,” the tweet notes.

Begaj and Escobar discuss situation in Western Balkans (Albanian Daily News)

Developments in the Western Balkans region were at the of the meeting between US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia and special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj. After appreciating the excellent strategic partnership relations between the two countries, President Begaj underlined the irreplaceable role of the United States of America in guaranteeing peace and security in the Western Balkans region. In particular, President Begaj appreciated the support that the United States and personally Mr. Escobar have given to the negotiation process between Kosovo and Serbia facilitated by the EU.

"The normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, centered on their mutual recognition, is a process with a great regional impact, both in terms of security and its sustainable development", underlined President Begaj. Focusing on the challenges and threats that the Western Balkans region is facing, after the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, President Begaj also underlined that "thanks to the new geopolitical approach from the European Union, today we have an increased attention to this the region. The issue of cyber security and hybrid threats received special attention during the meeting. President Begaj expressed his gratitude for the support and assistance of the specialized American agencies, considering them of vital and decisive importance for increasing Albania's cyber capabilities and capabilities.

Politicians and public targeted in online intimidation cases (BIRN)

BIRN’s latest three-month monitoring review of digital violations, covering the period from January to March, highlights how online targeting of politicians and government critics, as well as other forms of digital intimidation, have become significant issues of concern in the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe.

Political targeting has become a worrying issue in the Balkans, with threats and online harassment of politicians and individuals who criticise people in power, according to BIRN’s review of digital violations for the period from January to March this year.

Several cases of political censorship, intimidation and legal suppression of dissent have been reported across the region in the period.

These incidents include threatening messages sent to political figures on Twitter, the erasure of the digital profiles of dissenters, and legal indictments of critical journalists.

The spread of misinformation on social media platforms has also continued to be a significant problem, with cases reported in Hungary, Romania, Montenegro and Croatia.

Several countries, including Albania, Serbia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania and Croatia, have reported an increase in cyber threats in recent months.

Phishing attacks have been rampant, with hackers sending malicious messages and emails posing as reputable organisations and authorities, such as Díjnet in Hungary and Interpol in Serbia. Companies and individuals have also fallen victim to online scams, losing thousands of euros in the process.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3mmIomn