Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has suspended a previous decision by his government to expel Tienmu Ma, an American human rights lawyer from the country.
In August, the ministry of interior had rejected Ma’s application for a residence permit and had ordered his deportation. A complaint filed by Ma was also rejected in September. In his decision, Hoti suspended all the said decisions.
Ma is the expert behind the report on the deportation to Turkey of six alleged “Gullenists” teachers, written for the parliamentary committee investigating the matter. The report found 31 violations by the Kosovo secret service and police during their arrest and deportation. It concluded that the secret operation was illegal and unconstitutional.
The six teachers were later sentenced in Turkey to 56 years in prison for being part of the Gulen Movement. The Turkish state maintains that the movement staged the failed coup in 2016.
The human rights lawyer was also an advisor to former Prime Minister Albin Kurti. His Yale University professor called on the Kosovo government not to expel Ma.
Ma’s lawyer Tom Gashi told Exit News last week that the official reason for his client’s expulsion was his alleged failure to submit an Albanian or Serbian translation of his university diploma, and a bank statement proving a minimum annual income of €5,000. Gashi rejected both claims as false, adding that the real reason was his report on the expulsion of the Turkish citizens, and his political involvement with the previous government.
Hoti’s decision came after a complaint on procedures filed by the country’s ombudsman.
