Politicians from the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) attacked Prime Minister Albin Kurti and other government ministers after leaked audio recordings suggested an MP negotiated with controversial Kosovo Serb strongman Milan Radoicic.
The two groups erupted in a physical fight during Kurti’s speech in parliament.
The Parliament speaker Glauk Konjufca, from Kurti’s ruling Vetevendosje party, described the incident as “unacceptable.”
“The use of violence is also punishable, to be condemned by all of us,” he said. He also warned that police would deal with any “physical attack” that takes place in parliament.
Tensions rose during Kurti’s speech as he began to speak about the escalating situation in the Serb-majority north. During his speech, Kurti was interrupted by opposition MPs, and was called a “liar.”
An MP from the PDK party, Ganimete Musliu, then placed a photo montage of Kurti with elongated liar’s nose on the parliamentary podium. The image was then removed by Deputy PM Besnik Bislimi.
Soon after the incident, PDK MP Mergim Lushtaku threw water on Kurti and Bislimi. The Minister of Finance Hekuran Murati joined the confrontation, and waved a file in the area.
According to reports, Lushtaku then pushed Murati, and was hit by Bislimi with a bottle of water. Lushtaku then collided with the Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu. More MPs from both the PDK and government then joined the fight. Speaker Konjufca called for the police.
Vetevendosje MP Fitore Pacolli said the incident took place while Kurti was discussing “extending [Kosovo’s] sovereignty and control in the north.” Pacolli claimed Kurti was attacked because his comments “hinders the opposition.”
On Facebook, Lushtaku said his reaction using the water bottle was directed against both Kosovo Serb businessman Milan Radoicic “and his servant.”
Kosovo Serb strongman Radoicic is considered by many as the real holder of power in the Serb-majority north.
In recently leaked recordings, Vetevendosje parliamentary group chief, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, is heard meeting with Slavko Simic, a former MP for the Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb party Srpska Lista. In the recordings, the two men discuss that Kusari-Lila has discussed matters with Radoicic, also Srpska Lista deputy leader, especially regarding electricity in the northern region.
Kosovo Serbs in four municipalities in the north have not paid for electricity since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999. Two Brussels agreements, drawn up in 2013 and 2015 and intended to resolve the issue, have not been implemented.
Kosovo Serb strongman Radoicic is currently wanted in Kosovo on suspicion of corruption. He is also a suspect in the murder of a political rival, Oliver Ivanovic, in 2018.
Image via Wikimedia
