The leader of Kosovo’s Social Democratic Party (PSD), Dardan Molliqaj and fifteen other party activists were arrested on Tuesday, after a “symbolic action” in Prishtina.
PSD’s activists wrote on the walls of the Kosovo Police headquarters. The message said: “Rallies for political parties, fines for citizens” as a protest of political events where measures set to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been violated.
“During today’s symbolic action to expose the hypocrisy of Kosovo institutions towards its citizens, who imposed fines in the amount of EUR 3 million for citizens and almost none for political parties’ rallies, the state police apparatus violently intervened to stop the action by arresting PSD activists,” PSD announced through its Facebook page.
PSD announced that among arrested are Teutë Rrusta, Zgjim Hyseni, Nol Nushi, Leonard Shala, Gëzon Kastrati, Qëndrim Sahiti, Arbër Sejdiu, Drin Ahmeti, Gent Brahimi, Agron Kabashi, Veton Dragusha, Fatos Sahiti, Trim Gashi, Natyra Kuçi and Frashër Krasniqi.
PSD called for “an immediate” release of all the activists “unjustly” arrested.
Dardan Molliqaj was elected as PSD’ leader in December 2019 after its former leader Shpend Ahmeti stepped down following the party’s poor results at Kosovo’s early parliamentary elections in October that year.
Molliqaj was among 12 MPs who left Vetevendosje Movement in 2018, when the party was the largest in Parliament with 32 MPs.
The split came as a result of crises within the party followed with disagreements between those who left with its leader, Albin Kurti.
