Kosovo detains main opposition figure over tear gas protests

PRISTINA: Kosovo police on Friday arrested three members of the main opposition party, including its founder and leading member, over the firing of tear gas in parliament last year.
Albin Kurti, a member of parliament who founded the nationalist leftist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party, was detained by police as he approached the parliamentary building in Pristina, along with two female colleagues.
Police used pepper spray against other deputies who tried to prevent the arrests, which came after they refused to attend a summons to appear in court over the accusations. Members of the party have repeatedly set off tear gas in parliament as a tool of protest, including against a border demarcation deal with Montenegro, which has yet to be ratified.
The party fiercely opposes the agreement, claiming it will cede hectares of Kosovo’s land to its neighbour, but the deal is a condition for Kosovo’s citizens obtaining visa-free travel in the European Union.
Four Vetevendosje activists, including a member of parliament, were jailed earlier this month for "terrorism" over a grenade attack on the parliament building last year, ahead of a vote on the border deal.
Visar Ymeri, currently the official leader of the party, told reporters at the scene before parliament on Friday that "a massive persecution" has been launched against the group, which "started with the conviction of our four activists". Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has since been recognised by more than 110 countries, although not by Belgrade or Moscow.