EULEX Police Arrest Two Kosovo Serbs

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 11:42

A teenager and a 20-year-old Kosovo Serb have been arrested on suspicion of shooting at the house of a Kosovo Police officer in northern Kosovo.

Fatmir Aliu Pristina

The drive-by shooting, in which no one was injured, took place yesterday in the village of Leshak in the Leposavic municipality.

Besim Hoti, a spokesman for the Kosovo Police, said that the two young people had been charged with causing general danger and illegal possession of fire arms....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eulex-police-arrest-two-kosovo-serbs

MP immunity: impunity from justice?

se times
22/08/2011

Kosovo has ordered the constitutional court to weigh in on parliamentary immunity after EULEX requested a clarification of the issue.
By Muhamet Brajshori for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 22/08/11
EULEX was prompted to ask for a ruling on immunity after it could not proceed with an arrest warrant for former minister of transport and current MP Fatmir Limaj, who, as a former KLA commander, is accused along with nine other people of war crimes in Malisevo. The nine others have already been arrested, but Limaj's arrest has been held up due to the immunity granted to him as a MP....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/22/feature-03

EULEX Urges Limaj to Face War Crimes Trial

balkan insight
15 JUL 2011 / 15:58

Row deepens over MPs' immunity as senior EULEX official urges ex-minister Fatmir Limaj to drop his immunity and face trial, while the US ambassador says Kosovo risks confronting 'the world' if it does not resolve the immunity issue.

Petrit Collaku & Artan Mustafa Pristina

The deputy head of the EU rule-of-law mission, Andy Sparkes, told BIRN’s "Life in Kosovo" TV show on Thursday night that former transport minister Fatmir Limaj should waive his immunity from prosecution and face trial for war crimes....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eulex-asked-limaj-to-resign-and-face-war-crime-trial

Kosovo Speaker Spurns Reform of MPs' Immunity

balkan insight
14 JUL 2011 / 12:46

Jakup Krasniqi is accused of 'protecting his friends' after rejecting a EULEX request to pass a bill clarifying the lifting of immunity of MPs under investigation.

Petrit Collaku Pristina

Last week, the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX asked the speaker of parliament, Jakup Krasniqi, to clarify the issue of the immunity from arrest of MPs who are under investigation.

In theory, if 61 of the 120 MPs vote to do so, parliament can lift an MP's immunity, acting on the advice from the public prosecutor. In pratice, it has never happened....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/krasniqi-refuses-to-pass-an-immunity-resolution-on-suspected-mp-s

Kosovo Courts Urged to Seize Criminals' Assets

balkan insight
29 JUN 2011 / 09:29

The EU mission in Kosovo is urging local and international judges and prosecutors to use their powers to confiscate suspected criminals' assets during corruption and organised crime trials.

Petrit Collaku Pristina

The EU rule-of-law mission, EULEX, says that greater use of powers to confiscate illegal assets is an important way to fight organised crime and corruption.

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-eu-mission-urging-confiscation-of-criminal-assets

Serbia Modifies Resolution on Kosovo Organ Trade

balkan insight
24 JUN 2011 / 16:42

Serbia is asking the United Nations Security Council to take control of a wide-ranging investigation into human organ trafficking in Kosovo, a top Serbian official said Thursday.

The investigation is currently being conducted by the European Union mission in Kosovo, EULEX, but Serbia maintains that only the United Nations has the political neutrality and international auspices to supervise an effective investigation....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbia-modifies-resolution-on-kosovo-organ-trade

Kosovo's Feith Complains of EU Police Probe

balkan insight
23 JUN 2011 / 10:32

The International Civilian Representative in Kosovo, ICR, has asked the head of EULEX, Xavier De Marnhac, to explain why police investigated him about the appointment of a new central bank boss.

Petrit Collaku Pristina

Pieter Fieth, whose role is to supervise Kosovo's independence, has issued a complaint about his investigation at the hands of a EULEX prosecutor concerning his alleged involvement in the appointment of the Kosovo bank governor....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-independence-supervisor-pieter-feith-asks-his-case-to-be-removed-from-prosecution-registry

EU Police Raid Kosovo Returnees Ministry

balkan insight
16 JUN 2011 / 09:51

In a corruption probe, the EU rule-of-law mission and Kosovo police raided the Ministry of Community and Returns, a company HQ and two private addresses.

Petrit Collaku Pristina
The EU mission said the raids were part of an investigation into corruption related to tenders carried out between 2007 and 2009....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-eulex-raids-ministry-of-returns

Fatmir Limaj 'Ordered Kuci's Death’, Leak

balkan insight
15 JUN 2011 / 10:44

A leaked 200-page document contains the testimony of a protected witness in the 'Klecka' war crimes case. In it he is quoted as saying that Fatmir Limaj, now an MP, ordered him to execute the then KLA commander Blerim Kuci, today mayor of Suhareka, in the Kosovo war.

Petrit Collaku Pristina
The document published by the Pristina daily Koha Ditore on Tuesday contained the testimony of a protected witness who spoke of tortures and murders of prisoners held in the Klecka camp, which was set up by the Kosovo Liberation Army in 1998....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/limaj-wanted-kuci-dead

Kosovo: Two Charged in Medicus Organ Trafficking Case

balkan insight
14 JUN 2011 / 16:04

A EULEX prosecutor has indicted two foreigners linked to the Medicus clinic case on suspicion that they were involved in human organ trafficking.

Tanjug, B92
EULEX, the EU mission in Kosovo, confirmed the indictment against a Turkish doctor, Yusuf Sonmez, and Israeli Moshe Harel, in Pristina late on Monday.....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-two-charged-in-medicus-organ-trafficking-case

Kosovo's Limaj 'May Face War Crimes Charges'

balkan insight
13 JUN 2011 / 12:28

As nine war crimes suspects face a preliminary hearing in Pristina on Monday, there are indications that another suspect in the case, MP Fatmir Limaj, will soon face an official indicment.


Petrit Collaku Pristina

Pristina daily newspaper Koha Ditore reported today that Limaj, a former transport minister, will soon be officially charged by the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, for war crimes committed in Kosovo in 1999.....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/former-transport-minister-soon-officially-indicted-for-war-crimes

Indictment Filed Against Kosovo Telecoms Chief

balkan insight
09 JUN 2011 / 15:01

Prosecutors from the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, have filed indictments against the country's telecoms chief and customs director in two separate cases.

Petrit Collaku Pristina

Shyqyri Haxha, the head of Kosovo Post and Telecoms, PTK, and the company's head of the board of directors, Rexhe Gjonbalaj, along with three other persons from the local firm Dardafon LLC and Dardafon.net LLC, have been charged with sealing harmful contracts, abuse of office and misuse of economic authority.....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eulex-filed-indictments-for-ptk-chief-and-customs-director

Kosovo, Serbia Dialogue 'Can Improve Situation in North'

balkan insight
09 Jun 2011/ 07: 44

The head of the EU mission in Kosovo reiterates that political will from Belgrade and Pristina is necessary to improve the situation in the north.

Petrit Collaku

Pristina

Xavier De Marnhac, head of the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, said in an interview for BIRN’s weekly show “Life in Kosovo” that he is interested in expanding the rule-of-law in the disputed northern part of Kosovo.....more....

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-serbia-dialogue-can-ease-the-eulex-job

Ashton: Rule of Law Crucial for Kosovo

balkan insight
27 May 2011 / 17:00

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said on Friday that the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo has the full support of all 27 member states.

Petrit Collaku

Pristina

After visiting Belgrade on Thursday, Ashton headed south to Pristina on Friday and conveyed the message that rule-of-law is critical for Kosovo’s future....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/ashton-rule-of-law-crucial-for-kosovo

Kosovo Serbs Threaten Road Blockade After Arrest

balkan insight
18 May 2011 / 13:34

Businessmen from north Kosovo have warned that they will block the highways in the region if police do not release a Serb arrested as part of an organised crime probe on Tuesday.
Tanjug
Police from the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, announced on Tuesday that they had arrested a man suspected of involvement in organised crime in the predominantly Serb northern Kosovo....more...

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-serbs-threaten-road-blockade-after-arrest

No remains of missing persons found

b92.net
Crime & War crimes

Wednesday 11.05.2011
09:31
Source: Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- EULEX Department of Forensic Medicine (DFM) in cooperation with divers from the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) searched Lake Livoč near Gnjilane, it has been said....more...
read more: b92.net
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=05&dd=11&nav_id=74267

Kosovo: No Remains Found in Suspected Mass Grave Site

balkan insight
11 May 2011 / 08:36
read more: balkan insight

EU forensics experts say they did not find any human remains after a search on Tuesday in Livoc Lake in the eastern town of Gjilani, as excavation continues today at another site.
Petrit Collaku

Pristina
"On this occasion no remains were located," Alan Robinson, the co-head of the Department of Forensic Medicine within EULEX, told journalists on Tuesday. ...more....

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-no-mortal-remains-found-in-the-lake

EULEX’s Perceived Timidity, Lack of Results Damaging Image Among Kosovars

balkan analysis.com
May 2, 2011

Editor’s note: A string of high-profile incidents, such as vocal opposition to the EU’s nomination of Romanian Col. Marian Petre to head a special police unit in Kosovo, indicate an increasingly assertive attitude from Kosovar politicians, media and other public figures towards the EULEX mission. Operating conditions for a once lauded law-and-order mission thus seem to be worsening as public dissatisfaction grows and politicized legal challenges loom.

By Anita McKinna in Prishtina*

On April 18, a story broke in the Kosovo media: the EULEX security chief, Stefan Loren, had been suspended, allegedly due to ‘racist’ behavior towards his Albanian colleagues, while three other officers had been reassigned. EULEX described the dismissal and staff transfers as being due to ‘security concerns.’...more...
read more: balkan analysis.com
http://www.balkanalysis.com/kosovo/2011/05/02/eulex%e2%80%99s-perceived-timidity-lack-of-results-damaging-image-among-kosovars/

Kosovo: Pressure Mounts on EU Over Court in North

balkan insight
02 May 2011 / 08:50

Kosovo government officials and EULEX disagree on plan to let Kosovar and Serbian negotiators in Brussels resolve the issue of the court in the divided northern city of Mitrovica.
Petrit Collaku

Pristina
The head of the EU mission in Kosovo, Xavier De Marnhac, said last week that there is a need for a political agreement on the return of local judges and that the issue should be part of the ongoing dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels. ...more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-pressure-mounts-on-eu-over-the-north

read more: balkan insight

EULEX still awaits evidence in organ trade case

b92.net
Politics

Saturday 30.04.2011
14:36
Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- EULEX says a preliminary probe is still trying to establish whether enough evidence existed to begin a formal investigation into human organ trade allegations. Months after Dick Marty’s report accused Kosovo's top leaders of human organ trafficking, the mission says it can only launch an official investigation if enough hard evidence is received, and no specific persons are as yet under the spotlight. ...more...
read more: b92.net
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=04&dd=30&nav_id=74085