Pre-election gatherings with legal, unpunished violations

But, the inspectorates of different Kosovo municipalities, except for the Pristina municipality, have not yet pronounced political subjects the initial fines with this law, for violating measures which are in effect with the Government's decision in Kosovo's office.

According to the Kosovo government's decision in office on January 15th, the collection of more than 30 citizens is prohibited in closed spaces, while in public squares parks and public places, up to 50 persons are allowed.

Fines for disrespecting the Law for preventing and fighting the COVID-19 start between 35 and 2,000 euros, depending on violations.

In photos published on social networks by officials of political subjects themselves from meetings they had with citizens, it is seen that the number of gathered persons exceeds the number allowed under the government's recent decision on the issue, as well as other measures.

Such gatherings are nearly marked in all municipalities in Kosovo.

Inspectors of some of these municipalities say they have not yet pronounced a fine against the organizers of these gatherings, for various reasons.

Most municipalities do not fine political subjects

Milaim Hajdari, director of the Drinas Town Inspectorate Directorate, tells Radio Free Europe that the issue of electoral gatherings, which are being organised by political subjects, violating measures and the Law for the prevention and fighting of the COVID-19 pandemic, is extremely disturbing.

Hundreds of people have also participated in this pre-electoral organisation organised by the PDK in Buroja. As seen in the photograph, counter measures are not respected COVID-19. 26.01.2021, Buryon, Skenderaj.

According to him, the inspectors of this municipality have not yet imposed a fine, but for two days now they are reviewing information about the gatherings in their municipality.

As he says, municipal inspectors monitor the situation during their working hours until 4: 00 p.m. After 5: 00 p.m., according to him, central-level inspectors should be taken into custody. But, so far, as Hajdari estimates, this way of work has not created any effect towards the pronunciation of fines for political subjects who have committed legal violations through gatherings.

In view, he says, the situation created during the election campaign, which is still unofficial, and the legal violations being made through the rallies, the directorate he heads will mobilise additional capacities to have greater oversight on the ground.

“We will also see and raise the number of supervisory teams, because with only one team that has two or three inspectors, it is problematic to cover the ground. This is because usually in Drenas, as far as we can see, these gatherings are being held in closed environments in rural areas, in Oda, which is hard for us to identify. But, frankly, that's a concern. I've already made a reshape of teams and we'll be much more attentive in the face of this” phenomenon, Hajdari points out.

In the Malisheva municipality, according to the director of the municipality's Directorate of Inspectorate, Debran Kastrati, two large gatherings of citizens from the Democratic Party and Social Democrat Initiative have been held.

So far, as he says of Free Europe Radio, the inspectors of this municipality have not imposed any fines concerning legal violations by political subjects, but cases are under consideration.

On 24 January, Social Democrat Initiative leader Fatmir Limaj has met his fellow citizens in Malisheva. They miss masks and other defenses. 24.01.2021, Malisheva.

We've had two more gatherings. Otherwise, we did not have any information for other gatherings, in Odas, and in small, narrow surroundings. But for these last two gatherings, we are discussing and considering opportunities for further steps. So, in time, let's stop allowing such gatherings, but let's look at the other measures we'll take as director”, says Kastrati.

In the Decani municipality, citizens' gatherings, organised by political subjects, have also been marked, in which current measures for preventing and combating the spread of COVID-19 are not respected.

The director of the Decani municipality's Directorate of Inspectorate, Halil Tolaj, in a conversation with Radio Free Europe, stressed that there is a Sanitary Inspector in the whole municipality, who is tasked with overseeing both the enforcement of measures and the law on preventing and fighting COVID-19.

And we usually, at the end of the month we get the report, but I haven't heard that (sanitary inspector) has taken any action so far, because these are being held in late hours of the night, they're being wrapped up in oda. They're even hanging out in the halls, but I haven't heard the inspector took any action, at least until now. With a Sanitary inspector in this situation, it's very difficult for me to undertake something”, Tolaj points out.

The similar situation is ready in all Kosovo municipalities.

Inspectorate in Pristina, eight fines for political subjects

But, quite otherwise, the situation is reflected in the Pristina municipality. So far, it is the only municipality where municipal inspectors have fined political subjects, for gatherings in which the Law for Prevention and Combating COVID-19 has not been respected, as well as measures approved by the government in office.

Pristina Community Inspectorate Directorate Director Adonis Tahiri, speaking of Radio Free Europe, stresses that by January 29th, eight fines have been imposed against political subjects that have violated the law and measures for preventing and fighting COVID-19. According to him, the Democratic League of Kosovo has been pronounced three fines -- the Democratic Party of Kosovo -- two fines, meanwhile, from a fine have been imposed on the Vetevendosje Movement, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and the Social Democrat Initiative.

Some of them are outnumbering the number allowed at the gathering, some are due to lack of masks and some for the maximum distance allowed. The value of all fines is the same, of 2,000 euros, according to Article 25, point 1 of the Law vs. COVID-19, which these subjects have voted for themselves. We've said several times that it's hypocritical that these same politicians have voted these measures and laws, and they've asked us for a 24-hour commitment to their implementation. Meanwhile, on the other hand, there are the same ones that violate laws that have already passed”, Tahiri says.

From the introduction of the Law to Prevention and Combating of COVIID-19, on August 26, 2020, until January 28, 2021, according to Kosovo Police data, which has sent to Radio Free Europe, “have pronounced 125.420 separate persons' prefixes for failing to implement measures on the COVID-19”.

Early parliamentary elections will be held on February 14th. According to the Central Election Commission, political subjects will have 10 days for election campaigns from February 3rd to February 12th.