The newly appointed director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency Driton Gashi was previously accused for abuse of power but the charges were cleared only days before his appointment as intelligence chief, sources told Koha Ditore. Gashi was sued by a co-worker from the Ministry of Interior on allegations of unlawful demotion.

Anti-corruption NGO Çohu has expressed concern over the appointment of Driton Gashi to the post of Kosovo Intelligence Agency director. Çohu claims Gashi has been politically affiliated with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and was even member of the party’s presidency of the Pristina branch. The NGO considers that Gashi’s appointment to the post is continuation of the PDK’s efforts to stretch control over Kosovo institutions and as such is unacceptable.

Citing a report published by Skopje-based newspaper Vecer, the news site reports that the Albanian Intelligence Service (SHISH) was aware of the armed group and the attack that was carried out in Kumanovo, in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The newspaper reports that the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI) were also aware about the activities of this group. The armed group was reportedly being investigated by four intelligence services, including SHISH. The latter passed on information to the Kosovo authorities, but not to FYROM.

Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Skender Hyseni, denied having had information on the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) provided to him by the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA). He said his ministry did not receive any report from KIA about what happened in Kumanovo, FYROM. Hyseni said that what happened in FYROM is an exclusive responsibility of the Skopje authorities and added that they still don’t know exact number of people from Kosovo killed during the operation.

Bojan Bozovic, a former associate of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI), claims he has received death threats from people he calls extremists. Bozovic sent a letter to Koha saying that he has notified Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Interior Minister Skender Hyseni about the threats, but that he has received no reply. Bozovic said by the end of this year he would publish the names of people responsible for killings in Kosovo. “I will also publish the names of those working against Kosovo, those working in the Kosovo police and army who serve as Serbian spies.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will lead four parliamentary committees, Kosova Press reports. PDK will lead the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Health, Social Welfare Committee and the Committee on Administration.