Albanian community association “Movement” is organising a protest tomorrow in Colmar, France against the detention of AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj on an Interpol warrant issued by Serbia.
In a statement to the media, the association said Haradinaj’s detention is political and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has called a peaceful protest today in Pristina demanding the release of its leader Ramush Haradinaj. Haradinaj was detained two days ago by French authorities on an international arrest warrant issued by Serbia. RTK reports that Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) will also join the protest for Haradinaj’s release as will KLA war associations.
Citizens, members of the civil society and Vetevendosje Movement protested in Pristina today demanding an independent investigation into the yet unclear circumstances of the death of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, at the Prizren detention facility. Protesters also demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Dhurata Hoxha and that of Prizren regional police commander Nexhmi Krasniqi.
Officials from the three opposition parties – Vetëvendosje, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) – have not ruled out the possibility of joining their forces to oppose the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. The agreement is expected to be put to vote at the Kosovo Assembly within two months. Vetëvendosje spokesperson Frashër Krasniqi said the future protest could be called in cooperation with other opposition parties.
The president of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, in a video message called on the people of Kosovo to join the protest that his party is planning to stage together with the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) on 14 May. In his address, Haradinaj said that Kosovo is not doing well and it is not able to ensure economic development. Corruption has reached endemic levels, he added, while the agreements on the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro are a setback for Kosovo.
The government of Kosovo issued a press release saying that today’s planned opposition protest in Vushtrri against the creation of the Serb-majority municipality of Prilluzhe is based on an untrue cause. The Government insisted it never discussed the creation of such a municipality with anyone and accused the opposition parties of “fabricating causes for political gains” in an attempt to polarize the society and destabilize Kosovo.
Officials from Kosovo opposition parties are committed to continue opposing the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Vetevendosje MP Albulena Haxhiu told Telegrafi that the protest against the agreements has entered its seventh month and it has almost been three months since the opposition also began demanding the resignation of the government.
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) said in a press release that last night’s arrests of Vetevendosje spokesperson Frasher Krasniqi and the head of Vetevendosje parliamentary group Glauk Konjufca ahead of the opposition’s protest tomorrow demonstrate the strong link between the government and law enforcement authorities. The AAK said the timing of Krasniqi’s and Konufca’s arrest is no coincidence, particularly as it relates to allegations several years’ old.
A group of 54 civil society activists have signed a letter in support of tomorrow’s opposition protest. In the letter, the undersigned state that as citizens of Kosovo they are deeply concerned with the current political crisis and in an effort to contribute to the resolving of the situation, they have decided to support the opposition protest scheduled for 17 February.
Kosovo opposition parties are confident that the anti-government protest scheduled for 17 February will be the biggest yet. The opposition bloc is already meeting citizens from different municipalities to garner support for the upcoming protest. Adonis Tahiri from Vetevendosje said the united opposition continues to demand the annulment of the agreement with Serbia on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro.