Protest in Pristina continues into the evening; police call for calm

The gathering near state institutions in Pristina continued into the evening. Kosovo Police urged protesters to remain calm and conduct the protest peacefully and democratically. According to authorities, pyrotechnics were thrown and fireworks set off during the gathering, while one person’s health deteriorated.

The protest began without incident, with organizers and participants delivering speeches, Kosovo Police said.

At around 3 p.m., protesters set up tents in Ibrahim Rugova Square, near the Kosovo Assembly. Later, in the evening, the crowd moved to Skanderbeg Square, where the gathering continued.

Police reported that several people threw pyrotechnics and set off fireworks during the protest.

A person among the protesters suffered a deterioration in their health. Police officers escorted the person out of the crowd and, with the help of members of the public, took them inside the security cordon. There, the medical team provided first aid.

Police authorities said they had respected the right to assembly and freedom of expression. At the same time, they said, the necessary measures had been taken to maintain public order and safety and to protect citizens, as well as public and private property.

Police called on protesters to continue the gathering peacefully and democratically, while respecting the law and the instructions of police officers.

“Peaceful protest helps ensure the protest proceeds properly and contributes to public order and calm, without endangering lives or public and private property,” Kosovo Police said in a statement.