A chaotic incident unfolded in Kosovo’s parliament on Thursday when a member of the opposition party approached the podium where Prime Minister Albin Kurti was speaking and splashed him with water. The prime minister had been addressing efforts to ease tensions between the majority Albanians and the Serb-majority north, which have escalated in recent months. The opposition party has consistently criticized Kurti for his handling of the deteriorating relationship, which has strained ties with Western allies. Video footage from inside the parliament showed an opposition MP throwing water at Kurti and his deputy, sparking fistfights between lawmakers from both sides. The chaos only subsided when the police intervened, eventually allowing Kurti to be separated from his MPs and bodyguards.
This brawl marked the culmination of a heated three-day public debate triggered by an audio recording involving the chairwoman of Kurti’s party, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, and former Serb lawmaker Slavko Simic. In the recording, Kusari could be heard stating that she had previously spoken with Milan Radojcic, an official of Serb ethnicity, who is sanctioned by the U.S. government for organized crime and corrupt activities. Radojcic is also wanted by Kosovo authorities.
These controversies have emerged amidst growing unrest in the north, particularly since the appointment of ethnic Albanian mayors after April’s elections, which the Serbs boycotted due to their demands for greater autonomy as per a decade-old agreement. Ethnic Albanians constitute 90% of Kosovo’s population, while Serbs make up about 5%.
On a more positive note, Kurti announced on Wednesday that he had reached an agreement with the EU to reduce the police presence in the north and adopt other measures to alleviate tensions.
It is worth mentioning that during clashes between NATO peacekeeping soldiers and Serb protesters on May 29, 93 soldiers were injured, some severely, while 52 Serbs also sustained injuries, according to reports.
In conclusion, the incident in Kosovo’s parliament reflects the deep-rooted divisions and challenges faced by the country in achieving peace and stability. The audio recording and ongoing unrest in the north further exacerbate these issues. However, discussions and agreements between the government and the EU provide hope for potential resolution in the future.
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