Kosovo MPs Hold Marathon Debate on Activist's Death

MPs from the ruling coalition of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, and the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, convoked an extraordinary session of parliament to discuss the death of opposition activist Astrit Dehari - having earlier refused to discuss the matter on the grounds that they were awaiting the official forensic report.

After almost six hours of discussion, MPs backed a PDK and LDK motion, which said that if the family required extra expertise from the EU or the US, the authorities would pay for it.

Dehari had been in detention since August when he was arrested on suspicion of terrorism for allegedly throwing an explosive device in parliament. He died in prison in Prizren on November 5.

Forensic officials said he committed suicide. However, 17 days after his death, inspectors from the Ministry of Justice suspended the acting head of the prison, two supervisors and one correctional officer.

Zenun Pajaziti, chief of the PDK parliamentary group, said his party wanted to know exactly what happened in the prison on the day that Dehari died.

"We express our condolences but also our confidence in the authorities, confidence in our institutions shedding light on this case," Pajaziti said.

Ismet Beqiri, the chief of LDK parliamentary group, requested that the debate on Dehari's death be discussed with arguments and not insults.

"No one should use this case for their political benefit ... in no circumstances should Dehari's case be politicized," Beqiri said.

However, Glauk Konjufca, the head of parliamentary group of the opposition Vetevendosje party - to which Dehari belonged - blamed the state for Dehari's death and even accused it of murdering him. "The establishment and the absence of the state murdered Astrit...