Kosovo parliament descends into chaos after lawmaker throws water on prime minister

A brawl broke out in Kosovo’s parliament Thursday after a lawmaker within the opposition get together walked as much as the rostrum the place the prime minister was talking and doused him with water. 

Prime Minister Albin Kurti had been talking on efforts to defuse tensions between majority Albanians and the Serb-majority north which have escalated in latest months. The opposition get together has lengthy criticized Kurti for his dealing with of the deteriorating relationship that has strained relations with Western allies.  

Video from inside parliament on Thursday exhibits an opposition get together MP throwing water at Kurti and his deputy. Fistfights shortly broke out after different opposition and governing coalition lawmakers approached the rostrum. 

Kurti was pushed away from his MPs and bodyguards as lawmakers from either side attacked one another till police intervened. 

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Lawmakers push one another as a brawl breaks out in Kosovo’s parliament in Pristina, Kosovo, Thursday, July 13, 2023. (AP Photograph/Ridvan Slivova)

The brawl capped off a heated three-day public debate over an audio recording between the chairwoman of Kurti’s get together, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, after which Serb lawmaker, Slavko Simic.  

Kusari could possibly be heard saying that she beforehand spoke on the telephone with an official of Serb ethnicity, Milan Radojcic, who’s sanctioned by the U.S. authorities over organized crime and corruptive actions. He is additionally a wished particular person by Kosovo authorities.

FILE: On this picture constructed from video, Kosovar police automobile burns in Zvecan, northern Kosovo on Might 26, 2023.  (AP Photograph, File)

The controversy over the recording comes amid a backdrop of unrest within the north that has intensified since ethnic Albanian mayors took workplace in northern Kosovo after April elections that the Serbs boycotted demanding implementation of a decade-old deal for extra autonomy. 

Ethnic Albanians make up 90% of Kosovo’s inhabitants, whereas Serbs account for about 5%.

On Wednesday, Kurti mentioned he has agreed with the EU to scale down the police presence within the north and take different measures to decrease tensions.

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The NATO mentioned 93 of its peacekeeping troopers have been injured in clashes with Serb protesters, a few of them severely, on Might 29. Docs within the north mentioned 52 Serbs have been additionally injured.

Reuters contributed to this report.