Shpend Ahmeti for yesterday's VV rally on the ground: Harmful and Against Law

After criticism of no reaction to such a development has reacted today to the head of Pristina, who says that unless reaction as a municipality can be a political but unlegal mistake and says it has its responsibility as the capital's first.

Ahmeti has also mentioned the IKSHP's failure to react to such a massive gathering and has recalled that this institution had made criticism even when in the capital people were gathered for social aid.

Justice Ahmeti says that regardless of who the organiser was, the organisation of such a gathering in the current situation where Kosovo is located is dangerous and contrary to all recommendations given by the government.

Pristina's leader says such a gathering has been reckless in health terms, violation of the law and harmful in terms of the message given.

The “not formally knowing who organized it, and given the current state of pandemic, this gathering yesterday was reckless, dangerous and contrary to all that the central and local-level institutions have been talking about. Thus, in a medical sense, he was indisposed, legally a violation, and in terms of the message of harmful care. I'm hoping that this sentence doesn't appear in the Express title as the only sentence drawn from this text, and from this context”, Ahmeti wrote.

Full response:

I have a certain astrofu Berat Buzhala in a status where it actually began with my name and my non-review about test “protesten” on the ground.

For better information I'm explaining some facts because even yesterday a official of the The PDK held me responsible for the protest.

1. Under normal conditions, the Pristina municipality issues permission for cultural events, promotions and sports events in public spaces. Permission to protest does not give way because the right to rally is guaranteed by constitution. In fact, according to the laws in force, in case of the protest only the police should be announced in advance to ensure the prosperity of the protest.

2. Under pandemic conditions, the Government has announced the emergency situation under the Law for Prevention of Influencing Diseases, where it has banned collections and also banned the free circulation of citizens, where 180 minutes (two times 90) are allowed during the day for certain purposes, supplies, emergencies, and so on. So, testing the protest does not enter the allowed activities.

3. In such cases, each citizen has the right to report a legal offense, as well as the Communist right to ask for institutions like police to control such situations. We're not in the police chain of command. Municipal workers have no right to legitimise people.

4. But, as I put it, even though we've been right to report the situation, I have no information that we as a municipality did. We thought that since it was reported everywhere in real time, there's no need for anyone to inform the police about this situation. The police are in charge of understanding what's going on. We're not behind the detail, but of course we can and maybe he should have called them. Clearly, the police's reasoning cannot be that they were not informed.

5. Not our reaction as a Communist may be political error, but also our legal error. And for that political responsibility I have because everyone is waiting in the municipality for me to react. The IKSHP reaction which, in a health sense, has reacted to individuals in Pristina during relief distribution should tell us about the risk of gathering 500 people. Do not react to the police (with as much information as I have) has to do with failing to implement the decisions of institutions regarding circulation and collection in the square. I have to say here that the Kosovo Police have been among the most professional institutions we have been working with during this pandemic. So I have no remarks.

On the Personal Plain

1. I'm not assuming who arranged the protest test yesterday. Maybe we all know it, but taking formal responsibility doesn't, so I don't want to speculate as chairman.

2. Since I said I wouldn't talk about the central level, I thought my reaction would imply involvement in a political debate which is counterproductive to our municipality. But even no reaction is now seen as political action.

3. Not formally knowing who organized it, and given the current state of pandemic, this gathering yesterday was reckless, dangerous, and contrary to all that the central and local-level institutions have talked about. Thus, in a medical sense, he was indisposed, legally a violation, and in terms of the message of harmful care. I'm just hoping that this sentence doesn't come out in the headline of Express as the only sentence out of this text and out of this context.

As a Communist, by being limited to these aspects, our institutions of order would have to react. The state can't be for anyone else's mother and stepmother. Otherwise, no one is even morally obliged to hear our calls at home.

So far Berat Buzhala, I never mentioned individuals or political parties, even though they can be read between lines. The differences created are damaging to us in fighting pandemic, especially in fighting the economic consequences of pandemic.

This is my focus, because I think that Pristina (where I have a formal position) of Kosovo (where I'm a citizen) needs to be united in the storm that's passing through the mess that's waiting for us. I just want to be head of my own city. On this level, I may have been mistaken for not having reacted to any similar situation yesterday, but I have no regrets about the political inaction.

In central political analysis, there are many acts that have set priorities, including you. Without wanting to minimize the problem that you've raised and that maybe you're right, we're just trying to keep the municipality in help of upset, worried citizens, and prepared for future challenges.

Of course I'm concerned about democracy and liberalisation, perhaps even more than you are, but at this stage I think that for me and her community and its citizens, much more useful is solidarity, community and care for each citizen. Perhaps this extreme contaminant and polarization of politics will not allow that, but until the last day I will try to contribute in this direction, calling for unity, economic measures and rescue from the crisis. I hope I'm wrong and you guys are right.

Don't forget, don't go out without masks, don't get out of the way, and don't come out. 24 new cases yesterday should be an alarm for everyone. The Health Ministry's decisions should all be applied because we believe it has been imposed health decisions rather than informed political decisions.