Accessibility links

Breaking News

Kosovo Police Fire Tear Gas During Antigovernment Protest


Around 10,000 people attended the antigovernment protest in Pristina.
Around 10,000 people attended the antigovernment protest in Pristina.

Kosovo police fired tear gas on the evening of January 24 to disperse thousands of protesters throwing stones at a government building in a demonstration called by ethnic Albanian opposition parties.

The protest was the largest in Pristina since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

The ethnic Albanian parties are calling for the departure of an ethnic-Serb minister, Aleksandar Jablanovic.

Earlier this month, Jablanovic dubbed as "savages" some ethnic Albanian protesters who lost relatives during a 1998-99 war with Serbia.

The minister has apologized but the opposition parties are asking for his resignation.

The parties also want the government to announce its intentions for the future of the country's wealthiest mine, Trepca, which is also claimed by Serbia.

Around 10,000 people ended a protest at 4pm local time but dozens continued to throw stones at the government building and attacked police, injuring 20 officers.

Police said 22 protesters were arrested.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG