Pyrotechnics and tear gas at Kosovo parliament; six police injured, three detained

Clashes broke out on the evening of the protest outside Kosovo's parliament in Pristina after demonstrators tried to prevent MPs from leaving the fenced parliamentary compound until amendments to the law on the Special Court were approved.

Escalation at Skanderbeg Square

At one point protesters threw pyrotechnic devices at the parliament building and set fire to garbage containers on nearby streets. Police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd and allow lawmakers and other officials to exit the compound.

Authorities reported material damage caused by the burning of containers and by thrown pyrotechnics. During police attempts to push the crowd away from the government and parliamentary buildings, some demonstrators threw glass bottles and other objects at officers.

Earlier in the day the assembly approved the proposed changes to the Special Court law in a first reading, but a final vote remained uncertain after a meeting between Prime Minister Albin Kurti and opposition leader Bedri Hamza failed to yield an agreement to move the procedure to a second reading.

The opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) said Kurti conditioned the second-reading vote on holding a prior vote to elect the president of Kosovo. Around 19:00 MPs from Kurti's party, Self-Determination, were seen leaving the chamber while DPK called on deputies to return.

Kosovo police later said six officers were injured in the disturbances and 11 civilians sought medical help during the protest. Three demonstrators were detained and will face further action in coordination with judicial authorities. In later hours parts of the protest continued peacefully at the square, with police maintaining a cordon to prevent renewed escalation.

Photo: Printskrin