Kosovo MPs Say Deportation Probe Must Include Top Officials

Opposition MPs in Kosovo say the ongoing investigation into the controversial deportation of Turkish nationals last year to Turkey should not stop at low-ranking police officers and must be extended to include senior police and state officials

"We expect the prosecution to indict those who gave the orders for the deportation. They are the govenors of state security agencies like the Kosovo Police and Kosovo Intelligence Agency as well as the President and former Interior Minister," Driton Selmanaj, from the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, told BIRN.

"We have worked for months on the case … and the prosecution has enough evidence, so there is no reason to wait any more," the MP added.

A parliamentary investigation found that the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, which reportedly ran the operation, "illegally" deported six Turkish nationals - five employees of Turkish colleges in Kosovo and a doctor.

In a response to BIRN, the Special Prosecution Office on Thursday said it had received a report on the matter from the police inspectorate, IPK, but gave no information about any allegations made against members of the police.

"We would like to announce that the Special Prosecution … has received a crime report from the Kosovo Police Inspectorate on 22 suspects while we are also interviewing other defendants," the Special Prosecution said.

Selmanaj's co-chair in the parliamentary committee on the matter, Xhelal Svecla, from the opposition Vetevendosje party, said he suspected the investigation must not avoid high-ranking officials.

"It is good that procedures to bring those responsible before justice for various violations of the law have been started but it is extremely disappointing and unacceptable that only some weak actors have...