Albin Kurti, the leader of Kosovo's opposition party, has been freed by police after clashes between his supporters and police turned violent in the capital city of Pristina.
At least 15 people, including policemen, were injured in clashes Monday night, reported BBC News. About 200 supporters threw missiles, smoke bombs and stones at a police station and mayor's office during the protests.
Kurti, the leader of the opposition Movement For Self-Determination (Lëvizja Vetëvendosje or LVV), was arrested by police last week over the charges of disrupting a parliamentary session.
"Based on the investigations, interviews were planned with the members of parliament who are under suspicion. Albin Kurti was detained last night based on the order of the Pristina Basic Prosecution," the prosecutors' office said in a statement Tuesday, according to Balkan Insight. Kurti was released a few hours later.
Some 15 people were injured last night during the clashes between @LVetevendosje and #Kosovo police https://t.co/IJvd2qnEnu
— Marija Ristić (@Marien__R) October 13, 2015
Demolished police station entrance after supporters of Albin Kurti threw stones in protest to his arrest late Monday pic.twitter.com/Flce3Ye8nn — Una Hajdari (@UnaHajdari) October 12, 2015
Kosovo's Prime Minister Isa Mustafa condemned the violence in capital Pristina. "Such news makes us feel bad. As prime minister of Kosovo, I'm determined to fully respect the division of power", Mustafa said, according to Balkaneu.
Kurti and his fellow deputies threw tear gas in the Parliament over Kosovo's decision to give more autonomy to Serbian majority regions in the country. See the video below:
"Our protest was directed against Serbia's return through 'Zajednica' and against blackmailed officials, Isa Mustafa and Hashim Thaçi, who are trying, with an extraordinary vigour, to enable Serbia's authority in Kosovo. They reached an agreement in Brussels in violation of the institutional hierarchy of the Republic of Kosovo, overlooking and neglecting the very Republic and its citizens," the LVV party said in a statement while justifying its members' actions in Parliament.
Kosovo, one of the 108 U.N. member states, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia still considers the tiny Balkan nation as part of its territory, while several countries like Russia do not recognize its sovereignty and independence.
