Kosovo Arrests, then Releases, Cameraman Recording Company Eviction

Kosovo Police apprehended, then released, a cameraman in the southern town of Suhareke/Suva Reka filming the eviction of a privatised company put under administration by the Kosovo Privatisation Agency, KPA.

"I insisted on recording the event but the police considered that I was hindering their work. I told them: 'I am not hindering you,'" Albion Selitaj, a cameraman for the news portal Ekonomia Online told BIRN after he was released, less than two hours after he was apprehended.

"The only word I said to them was: 'Don't touch my camera', but they pushed me and then I got arrested. Police were dealing with us, not with the issue they came to deal with," he added.

Selitaj said that unlike the officers during his arrest, the police in Suhareke/Suva Reka police station "behaved in a correct way".

Kosovo Police spokesperson Vesel Gashi confirmed that Selitaj was apprehended "for obstructing officials performing their duties, despite being warned [not to]".

"Under Prosecutor's order, he was released and the case now goes through regular procedures," Gashi said.

Condemning the arrest, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, AJK, said the police behaved in an "unprofessional way".

"Rather than hinder them, the AJK expects the Kosovo Police to create reporting conditions for media workers in such events," the AJK said.

Kosovo Police announced that it has suspended two officers involved in the arrest while five others will go through internal disciplinary procedures.

"Their suspension is based on Police's administrative instruction and is aimed at investigation and clarification of circumstances of the case," Police said.

At the same time, the Police Inspectorate has announced it has launched an...