The Office of the State Prosecutor of Kosovo issued a press release today saying that it has initiated investigations against certain members of the Kosovo Assembly suspected of having committed criminal offences: “causing general danger” (Article 365 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo), and “use of weapon” (Article 375 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo).
Kosovo Police Spokesperson Baki Kelani denied the allegations of the opposition Vetevendosje former leader Albin Kurti that he was released as a result of the reaction of Vetevendosje activists last night. Kelani said Kurti was released on the order of the prosecutor and it was on the basis of such an order that he was detained and interviewed. Kelani said 15 police officers and 1 person were injured in last night’s clashes between the Vetevendosje supporters and the Kosovo Police.
The Vetevendosje Movement said today that three of its members, who were arrested last night by police following clashes in downtown Pristina, are still being held in detention. “Police are keeping in detention several activists and citizens, including Ylli Hoxha, Uran Hasani and Premton Iberdemaj. Keeping them in detention creates more tensions. We call for their immediate release!” a Vetevendosje communiqué said.
Except for blocking of the work of the Assembly of Kosovo, opposition parties claim that they will also obstruct work of the Parliamentary Commissions. The five Assembly Commissions planned to adjourn today at 10:00 hours to endorse the draft laws proposed by the government, will be boycotted by the three position parties, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) and Vetevendosje Movement.
The government of Kosovo has expressed concern and regret for the violence exercised by militant groups of the opposition parties over the Kosovo Police and the other constitutional institutions, injuring seriously some police officials, casing damages to public and private properties and disturbing the citizens.
The Vetevendosje Movement has categorically opposed the inclusion of the villages Suhadoll, Vinarc and Gushavc into the Municipality of Mitrovica North. Vetevendosje said in a press release that the move would lead to a “silent ethnic cleansing” of Albanians from the area. “This is planning to be done though the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two municipalities on 10 October with the defining of new administrative inter-municipal borders,” the statement read.
The opposition bloc, consisting of the Vetevendosje Movement, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), issued a joint statement on today’s events at the Kosovo Assembly.
“The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is ruining and bankrupting the state, by formalizing and legalizing Serbia’s power within the territory and institutions of Kosovo. This will destroy the Republic, the sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the wellbeing of the people. No one has the mandate or right to return Serbia to Kosovo. We will not allow this to happen.
The Vetevendosje Movement parliamentary group chief, Glauk Konjufca, said that throwing the teargas in today’s session of the Assembly was a democratic act and that all actions by the opposition were aimed at stopping the adoption of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. “We want to block the work of the Kosovo Assembly … I think this [the teargas] did well to the LDK MPs … This is a democratic act.
The Vetevendosje Movement announced on Monday that it has so far collected over 160,000 signatures against the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. According to Vetevendosje, citizens from all political parties, including those who voted for the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), are signing the petition. Vetevendosje also said the petition would continue until 200,000 signatures are collected and then they will organize protests.
Vetevendosje Movement spokesman Frasher Krasniqi said today that opposition parties will continue to block the work of the Kosovo Assembly as a sign of protest against the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and against the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Krasniqi said that there is no date set for a protest, "but in the meantime the opposition is giving an opportunity to the people to express themselves through the petition". “We discussed the protest but we have yet to set a date," Krasniqi said.