Kosovo Intelligence Agency

Kosovo's Special Prosecution has confirmed to BIRN that an indictment has been filed against three individuals in connection with the highly controversial deportation of six Turkish nationals to Turkey on March 29, 2018.

Outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has rejected criticism for awarding the retiring head of the Kosovo intelligence agency, KIA, Shpend Maxhuni, with the prestigious Skanderbeg medal for "professionalism and loyalty shown in the service to the nation".

Photo: EPA/ ERDEM SAHIN

Turkish news agency Anadolu reported on Wednesday that the prosecution is demanding sentences ranging from 16 years and six months to 28 years and six months for the six.

The six Turks have been held in detention in a Turkish prison for a year since their controversial deportation.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci addressing to media on Saturday said that the six arrested and extradited Turkish nationals suspected of their alleged links with Fetullah Gulen, were involved in "illegal activities" and were "threatening national security" of Kosovo, Gazeta Express reports.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on Friday sought the immediate removal of the head of Kosovo's Intelligence Agency, Driton Gashi, and the Interior Minister, Flamur Sefaj, after a group of Turkish citizens were arrested and reportedly deported on Thursday without his knowledge.

“Canada will stay alongside Kosovo forever," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.

Beta reported this on Wednesday, citing a statement published by the office of the Kosovo president, Hashim Thaci.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has said that EU officials should not "abuse" the pro-European orientation of citizens of Kosovo.

Beta reported him as saying that this pro-European orientation has been abused by individuals in the EU in order to humiliate Kosovo or delay its European perspective.

"Kosovo is an independent state and has the right to form its own army," Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has told Swiss public broadcaster SRF.

Moreover, Thaci accused Belgrade of being a factor of instability in the region.

Haxhi Shala, head of the Kosovo parliamentary committee in charge of overseeing the Kosovo intelligence agency, has said President Hashim Thaci or Prime Minister Isa Mustafa have a duty to explain the sudden resignation of Agron Selimaj, who headed the agency since 2015.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci says he wants Hillary Clinton to win in the U.S. presidential elections.

He has also called on Albanians in the U.S. to vote for Clinton.