Free Albin Kurti - The Case

How long has Albin Kurti been in detention?

Since his arrest on 10th February, Albin Kurti has been classified as a category A prisoner, and held in detention in prison. He was transferred first into house arrest on 10th May, under the condition that he had no contact with movement activists or the media, and was re-arrested after one day, whilst visiting the families of those who died on the 10th February. He was then transferred again into house arrest on 7th June, but re-arrested on 13th June, after just a few days without breaking any of the conditions of his house arrest. On 11th July he was transferred again into house arrest. He is not allowed to leave his apartment, has a police guard at his door and relies on friends and family to bring him food and supplies. He has been indicted and his trial began on September 19th. During this session, he tried to read a statement in which he explained why he rejected the panel of judges: All international judges are appointed by UNMIK and UNMIK is also acting as an injured party in the case. The international judge refused to let him speak shouting 'shut up' a number of times. The trial is now pending a decision on whether to change the panel.

What happened on 10th February?

On 10th February 2007, the Movement for Self-Determination in Kosova, led by Albin Kurti, organized a demonstration in Prishtina, the capital city of Kosova. Thousands of protestors marched peacefully through the main streets of the city to demonstrate their demand for the right to self-determination. In the centre of the city, they reached a police blockade which prevented them from continuing down Mother Theresa Street. Albin Kurti asked the police to remove the blockade so that they could continue their march. The police refused, and so activists of the movement linked arms, and used their bodies to try to walk through the cordon. Immediately and without prior warning, the international police fired rubber and plastic bullets and tear gas into the crowd. A total of 232 bullets were fired, killing two young men, and injuring two others very seriously. Altogether 82 were registered as injured, one of whom lost his eye. 14 people were arrested during the demonstration including activists who were arrested after carrying an injured demonstrator through police lines in order to take him to an ambulance. Following the demonstration, Albin Kurti was arrested.

Investigations and Accountability

The Minister of the Interior resigned, although he was not involved in preparing the police operation. After a few days, the British Police Commissioner in charge, Stephen Curtis resigned. As he is immune from prosecution he has left the country.

A Department of Justice investigative commission was established under the direction of the international prosecutor Robert Dean. He produced two reports. The first released on April 17th stated that the death of two protestors was a criminal act committed by the

(Continued on next page)