Results of Investigation Over Exile of Turkish Citizens Are Expected in October

The investigative commission, which has been proposed by the Democratic League of Kosovo and has received the support of parliamentary parties, is designed to investigate and illuminate the circumstances and procedures to expel six Turkish citizens from Kosovo to Turkey.

On 29 March of this year, at the request of Turkish authorities, Kosovo Police have arrested and deported six Turkish citizens to Turkey, five of them employees at the “Mehmet Akif” school, while the six-man doctor expelled.

After that development, Kosovo's Assembly, on April 17th, had adopted a resolution to establish an investigative commission regarding the expulsion of these Turkish citizens.

Xhelal Svecla, chairman of the Independence Commission from the Vetevendosje Movement, in a conversation for Radio Free Europe, said that consolidation of the commission staff is expected this week, as well as equipment with necessary documentation. After that period, he said, action steps are expected in terms of evidence and hearing of persons involved in the matter.

Svechla said this commission will give the final epilogue, despite the fact that it has, according to him, efforts by certain circles to prevent this process.

The fact that this commission is starting work two months late is an obstacle to itself. An intensity of certain circuits is observed to deconcionate the work of this commission or to make it difficult to work”, he said.

But we are determined to push this issue forward. We think it's extremely important. Since, in my opinion, what happened that day is the darkest point of institutional action since the declaration of independence so far”, Svechla said.

Investigations concerning the expulsion of Turkish citizens have also made the ombudsman in Kosovo, Hilmi Jashar, under which international standards and human freedoms have been found. This report with published recommendations has been handed over to competent institutions.

Jashari told Free Europe Radio that he is still waiting for an official response from the Kosovo government. According to him, according to the findings during the investigation Turkish citizens have not been deported, but have been extradited from Kosovo.

Each further delay complicates the process because other international mechanisms, I hear they have begun to address this issue. This issue already exceeds the local level of”, Jashar stressed.

The deportation of six Turkish citizens from Kosovo to Turkey was a co-ordinated action between intelligence services from Turkey and Kosovo. But, which MPs, president, prime minister and speaker of the Parliament had declared they had no knowledge of the case at all.

Prime Minister Haradinaj had relieved Interior Minister Flamur Sefaj and Kosovo Intelligence Agency chief Driton Gashi, who have later resigned from their positions.

After that, in May, the family members of Turkish citizens have filed charges against institutions responsible for the decision to force their departure and for revocation of the six Turkish citizens' residence permit. While already preparing files to submit the case to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo.