Kosovo Activists Plan New Rally Over Dehari Death

Kosovo civil society activists have called another protest on Thursday in Pristina's main Skenderbeg Square over the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari who died early in November in a jail in Prizren.

The rallty is supported by thousands of social media users using the hashtag #JusticeForAstrit or Albanian #DrejtesiPerAstritin.

"We want an immediate criminal investigation into the responsible officials who failed to guarantee the safety of Dehari's life in state institutions," civil society activist Besa Luzha wrote on Facebook about Dehari's mystery death.

Protesters want an international independent investigation, as well as the dismissal of the Ministers of Justice and the Interior.

This is the second protest that civil society activist have organised since November 14 when thousands of citizens marched through the main squares of the Kosovo capital.

Forensic Department officials said Dehari committed suicide. However, 17 days after Dehari's death, inspectors from the Ministry of Justice suspended the acting head of the prison in Prizren, two supervisors and one correctional officer.

Justice Minister Dhurata Hoxha also officially asked British Ambassador Ruairi O'Connell to secure help of London's Metropolitan Police to conduct an investigation. However, British police have declined to be involved in this process.

Ambassador O'Connell answered: "Given that there is no direct British link in this case, it would not be appropriate for British police to be involved."

Urging local institutions to conduct the probe professionally, O'Connell wrote: "This case demonstrates the need to make urgent reforms to the rule of law in Kosovo, so as to restore public trust in the system".

Dehari's family said the...

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