Glauk Konjufca Faces Retrial Today over Tear Gas Incident in Parliament

Glauk Konjufca is expected to appear today before the judicial panel at the Basic Court in Pristina, where the retrial will be held in the case involving the use of tear gas in the Assembly of Kosovo.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora is expected to attend.

The case concerns the events of August 10, 2016, when Konjufca, then a lawmaker, allegedly released tear gas during a session in the chamber of the Assembly of Kosovo, in violation of the law.

The indictment, filed by the Basic Prosecution in Pristina on February 3, 2017, charges him with two criminal offenses.

According to the prosecution’s account, the smoke caused by the gas filled the chamber and made it impossible for those present to remain there, forcing them to leave the Assembly premises.

On February 26, 2024, the Basic Court in Pristina acquitted Konjufca of the charge of “Use of a weapon or dangerous instrument,” finding that the commission of this criminal offense had not been proven.

Regarding the other charge, that of “Obstructing an official person in the performance of official duties,” the court found that the offense was time-barred.

However, the Court of Appeals annulled the first-instance decision and ordered the case to be returned for retrial.