AFK member under police custody
05/04/2011 21:15
Opposition demonstrators clash with the police in the protest in front of Tirana municipality, foreign embassies condemn acts of violence 19/04 16:00
Head of Suhareka commune, Blerim Kuçi, will remain on hold for 30 days by order of the EULEX judge, Ferdinando de Monguot, after refusing to testify in another case.
Kuçi was brought to the District Court on Tuesday, by EULEX prosecutor’s demand, appearing in front of the preliminary procedure judge for two hours.
Unofficial sources say that Mr. Kuçi, at the same time organizing secretary of Alliance for the Future of Kosovo party (AFK), has refused to testify to the Fatmir Limaj case, a EULEX suspect on war crimes.
According to these unofficial sources, Blerim Kuçi is mentioned as one of the victims that were held in Kleçka.
The Court’s decision says that “The witness did not present legal reasons on why he refuses to answer to the Prosecutor, putting himself on the position of the person that does not want to implicate himself by answering, or on the position of the person that does not want to implicate other persons that he considers as innocent on this criminal procedure, which aims the creation of the Kosovo New History”, says the decision.
European Mission in Kosovo denied having ordered Mr. Kuçi’s arrest, without specifying on which case they are addressing this declaration.
Everything that was officially said by the EULEX representatives, is that Mr. Kuçi has repeatedly refused to testify, after several demands made by the Prosecutor.
According to the Eulex Information Office, Mr. Kuçi will be released from custody if he will testify.
“Blerim Kuçi has had the opportunity to testify, a demand made several times by the prosecutor. This means that he is witness of a criminal case under the Kosovo Special Prosecution investigation. He has refused several times to testify. He was also fined with 250 Euros for refusing, because he has knowledge for the answers. The Kosovo Criminal Code provides the penalization of any person that knows the answer and doesn’t respond during an investigation. The law also provides putting this person under custody for one month or until he testifies. And this is what happened today with Kuçi”, Kristina Herodes, EULEX spokesperson said.
On the other hand, the Blerim Kuçi’s Party, AFK, has not delayed the reaction through their leader, Ahmet Isufi.
“AFK invites EULEX to comply with its priorities of practicing law in Kosovo and to not impinge Albanian’s right war for freedom, democracy and independence. AFK supports and respect Blerim Kuçi’s decision on protecting the liberation war values in Kosovo”, Ahmet Isufi declares, as vice chairman of the AFK party.
However, the Prishtina Court decision also indicates that Mr. Kuçi has been questioned many times by the prosecutor in October 2010, but he has constantly refused to answer the questions directed to him.
Top Channel
