Deputies from the Democratic Party of Kosovo physically attacked Prime Minister Albin Kurti and other members of the Government in the Kosovo Assembly.
Kurti was speaking about the situation in northern Kosovo when his speech was interrupted by opposition deputies chanting “liar”.
Initially, water was thrown towards Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi by Deputy Mërgim Lushtaku, after Bislimi removed and tore down a photo montage of the prime minister with an elongated nose that the opposition had placed there.
Later, the situation escalated with physical attacks on Finance Minister Hekuran Murati as well.
The Kosovo Police and the close protection of the Prime Minister intervened to prevent further clashes.
The Democratic Party of Kosovo has demanded that the Prime Minister not speak in the Assembly and has positioned themselves near the lectern, while the Prime Minister did not leave the podium, intending to continue his speech.
In an official reaction to the incident, the Self-Determination Movement denounced the violence perpetrated by “a gang of thugs” and warned that “amnesty will not be granted to criminals”.
“Organized crime and the extended hand of the clenched fist will not deter us from upholding order and constitutionalism in the Republic. Today in the Kosovo Assembly, the extended hand of those who do not want citizenship, democracy, and the law of Kosovo attempted a coup. While Prime Minister Albin Kurti was delivering a speech about the Republic of Kosovo’s battle for extending order and the rule of law in the northern part of the country, several deputies from the Democratic Party of Kosovo attacked the Prime Minister and the ministers of Kosovo with clenched fists, like a gang of thugs. This attack is directed against the first government of Kosovo that does not have any minister or deputy minister controlled by Belgrade. This attack is taking place precisely at an important moment of diplomatic confrontation, not only between Kosovo and Serbia. This attack came as a coordinated action among different branches of the same gang: some of them call themselves deputies, some call themselves journalists, and some are protesters. But Kosovo will continue to move forward in consolidating its statehood, regardless of such attacks. The Self-Determination Movement remains committed and engaged in seeking justice for criminals who have unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of our society and state, and they will not be granted amnesty,” the official statement read.
Prior to being attacked, Kurti spoke in the Assembly about controversial Serbian businessman and politician Milan Radoičić and how his arrest warrant was withdrawn in 2021, a few days before his government was formed.
“When previous governments were in power, this chief criminal was in Mitrovica, he was in Pristina. Now, our contribution is that he is in a hotel in Kopaonik, in Serbia,” said Kurti.
In recent days, as well as in this session, the opposition has been critical of the government after leaked wiretaps of the head of the Parliamentary Group of the Self-Determination Movement, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, emerged in the media in Kosovo. She admitted to having a conversation with the Deputy Leader of the Serb List Milan Radoičić.
The Self-Determination Movement has continuously criticized individuals who have had contacts with Radoičić.
Milan Radoičić is the Deputy Leader of the Serb List, wanted by the authorities of Kosovo, and is also on the U.S. blacklist for “involvement in international organized crime”.
He is also wanted by Kosovo under suspicion of witness intimidation in the judicial case known as “Brezovica”.
Radoičić is mentioned in the indictment as the “leader of a criminal group” who planned the assassination of Serbian politician Oliver Ivanović. However, the arrest warrant for Milan Radoičić was withdrawn in March 2021 without any explanation.
