Kosovo clan still figures as active business at ATK's ARBK

In the opinional legal conditions, suspension of the business certificate meant halting business activity immediately by Kosovo Ministry and Tax Administration inspectors. Klan Kosova, except that it is operating, the ministry has not introduced it to inactive businesses.

Based on ARBK data, Klan Kosova S. P.K, business number 70542943, figures as active business.

Yes, as well, given the Kosovo Tax Administration data, this taxpayer is active.

Industry, Intervention and Trade Minister Roseta Hajdari has been declared in connection with the decision that is being highly criticised by the medium Klan Kosova.

This medium, reports Minister Hajdari, has said that the reason why the business certificates have been suspended has to do with “Gjakove, Serbia” and “Peje, Serbia”.

The reason why a business certificate was suspended, the decision that was made yesterday. To be clear once again that the file with the address of Gjakova/ Serbia, and much more, Peja/Serbia is very serious action before the law, before the Constitution, and it is irresponsible. And that's why we've prosecuted for the” investigation, she said.

On the other hand, Hajdari has said the ARBK handles the company's business case, while the Independent Media Commission will deal more with the case.

But, as you know, ARBK handles the company's case only as business, media issues as such are handled by the Independent Media Commission, and neither we nor the government step nor shut down media” has declared further.

Regarding this ministry's move, the lawyer, Xhevdet Smakqi, has said legal procedures have been violated.

“Klan Kosova sh.g. can't be closed, since under this decision the reason is seen as there may be technical errors or interventions in the file because there is neither legal nor formal logic to reason on the suspension why it was written incorrectly or technically Gjakova, Peja Serbia.

There is also a fact of political influence in which Z. Director Spring Prestreshi, where's ARBK Director?

Another fact of political influence is seen in addressing the decision on the Ministry's cabinet. Why? This is a civil administrative service decision at all is not a decision that belongs to the capacity of the cabinet of Minister”, Smakqi said.

During today's afternoon, Deputy Director General of the Agency for Registering Business in Kosovo (ARBK), Spring Prestreshi, has corrected the decision to suspend the Kosovo Clan business certificate.

Prestreshi has corrected the law in which he was called for the decision to suspend the certificate, where the law “Nr was quoted in the first decision. 06/L-16”, while after correction, the law “Nr was quoted. 06/L 016 for Trade Company”

In yesterday's decision to suspend Klan Kosovo's business certificate, MINT has been summoned to Law “Nr. 06/L-16”, which is a completion and change of law “Nr. 05 L-090” for sponsorships in the field of Culture, Youth and Sports and not in the Trade Society Law.

This decision has been followed by sharp reactions from all media in Kosovo, civil society and international organs, praising it as media freedom intervention.

The Kosovo Journalists' Association has been deeply shaken by the announcement of the Ministry of Industry, Intervention and Trade for the suspension of a private national television business license, Klan Kosova, suggesting the decision has been unconfirmed, without specifying the legal and unannounced base.

“The AGK, considers the action of the prime minister's government, Albin Kurti, and Vetevendosje Movement as unprecedented in Kosovo's new history, and direct efforts to detect and control the media content of Klan Kosovo. In particular, we are concerned with the fate of our journalists, cameramen and other Kosovo clan workers who will be directly infected by this arbitrary decision. We also consider that this decision has been made to send a message to other media and it is untenable evidence that media freedom and expression has never been more at stake than currently. The AGK, will be in contact with international partner organisations for media freedom to denounce this act of Government”, AGK reports.

It has also reacted immediately, Secretary General of the European Federation of Journalists Ricardo Gutierez.

“Today is a day of mourning for Kosovo: the state is activated in censorship against Kosovo, the Kosovo government is violating European standards of media freedom. This arbitrary act plunges Kosovo into the camp of authoritarian regimes that turn their backs on the European Union and the democratic values protected by the Council of Europe.” has said among other things Gutiere.

To suspend the certificate, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom has also reacted.

“We are alarmed at the Kosovo Ministry of Industry, Undertaking and Trade's decision to suspend Klan Kosova's business certificate. The decision is based on the fact that one of the company's owners has used his Serbian passport to register Klan Kosovo in northern Macedonia, which led to documents presenting Kosovo cities as Serbian cities. Those documents have been used for the opening of the Kosovo Clan headquarters in #Kosovo, which is not prohibited by law and no procedure.

The government's decision, analysed by EPCPMF, refers to the wrong legal base, and there is no proper rationale, was taken by the dictatorship that has no competence for suspension of business certificates. Furthermore, the suspension procedure for business certificates does not exist under national legislation.

We believe the aim of the Ministry is the closure of the Kosovo Clan, and we agree with the Association of Kosovo Journalists that this is unprecedented in Kosovo's new history, and aims to dictate for editorial observance of the media”, said in response.

Klan Kosova, stressing that, among other things, in a next response to MINT's decision to suspend the Kosovo Clan business certificate that the Government by this act is misusing state mechanisms to suppress the free word, freedom of expression and independent media.

This, this Government, is doing with decisions that do not belong to a democratic system. In the name of the law and the Constitution, they are taking actions that are contrary to both, and furthermore against the principles of democracy”.

Klan Kosova has immediately taken measures and actions to announce all state institutions, accredited embassies in Kosovo, international media organisations and freedom of expression, and the same from last night without stopping have come to the support of free speech, media independence, and against this arbitrary and threatening <x0 decision.

The “Free Word and freedom of expression are above government. They cannot harm politicians or parties who love their platform media. We'll never accept that, and that'll never happen. Kosovo is Kosovo's, and Kosovo is an individual's and not a power. We'll move on. Even stronger. Without ever fearing”, it is said, among other things, in part of the Klan Kosovo response about the decision to suspend Klan Kosovo's business certificate./Periscopi/