Kallxo Condemns Journalist's Expulsion From Kosovo Parliament

Taulant Osmani, a journalist who was following developments in the Kosovo parliament related to the border deal with Montenegro, was forced to leave the building by a police officer in charge of security in parliament on Thursday.

Osmani said the expulsion occurred when he was waiting in the corridor for a meeting between Speaker Kadri Veseli and representatives of the various parties to end, as the session on ratifying the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro was expected to begin.

He said he believed the police officer "would not let me report on who was at that meeting at the office of Speaker Veseli because we had information that representatives of political parties were there," Osmani said.

"At the moment when Fatmir Limaj, head of the Initiative for Kosovo, and MPs from the Democratic League of Kosovo left the meeting, the officer expelled me by force," Osmani said.

The police officer removed Osmani from the premises, saying that he did not have a valid accreditation for 2018.

However, all journalists reporting from parliament have accreditation from 2017 because parliament has not yet sent out new ones for 2018.

Kallxo.com, which is BIRN Kosovo's online outlet, called on the assembly to take measures to create the proper conditions for journalists to work unhindered - and to take measures also against the official who had prevented a journalist from doing his job.

In its response to complaints, the parliament said journalists may only remain in the lobby and in the area dedicated to them behind the plenary hall.

"In any other area ... and in this case, the office of the speaker, access is not allowed when there is no official invitation sent to the media," it added.

Assessments of the situation...