No spectacles, crime should be punished (Kosova Sot)
The paper’s front-page editorial argues that “surprising actions by EULEX do not bring much hope that the judiciary will punish the large-scale crime that took place in post-war Kosovo”. “There are numerous cases when media spectacles by the European mission were followed by disappointing developments and the key suspects were acquitted due to lack of evidence. As a result, influential politicians, incriminated high-ranking officials, heads of the judiciary or the prosecution, were not touched by the force of law. The large number of raids and only six people arrested imply that something is wrong with this police action and it strengthens the belief that this is but a show aimed at telling the people that there is a fight against crime and corruption. We will have to wait and see if the raids will result in the conviction of those that committed serious crimes damaging the budget and the people of this country … There is sufficient evidence and arguments for the prosecution to order the arrest of many people who are deeply involved in organized crime and corruption. Some people are trying to establish a link between the decision on visa liberalization and results in the fight against corruption. Our country cannot rely its hopes for rule of law based on criteria set by the EU for integration processes, but this – the state of law – should be the top priority. The biggest political party in the country, whose MP is suspected as the head of a criminal group, should have called on him to surrender to the judiciary and not hide”.