Prime Minister Hoti fired the director of Kosovo's police, customs and tax administration

Avdullah Hoti sitting in his office (archive)

 The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, dismissed on Friday the director of the Kosovo Police, Rashit Qalaj, as it is said "based on the performance report".

"In accordance with the Law on Police, Prime Minister Hoti has appointed Mr. Samedin Mehmeti as acting General Director of the Kosovo Police", it is said in the announcement of the Prime Minister's Office.

In the evening, he dismissed the acting Director-General of Kosovo Customs and the Director-General of Tax Administration of Kosovo, "in accordance with legal powers and based on the recommendations of the Minister of Finance."

"Prime Minister Hoti appointed Bajram Rexha as acting director of Customs and Ekrem Hysenaj as acting director of Tax Administration," the statement said.

No further details were given about the dismissals, but the Democratic Party of Kosovo described the dismissal of the police director as a decision that seriously affects one of the most important independent institutions of the state.

"The fact that this dismissal is taking place when less than a week has passed since the arrest of the deputy chairman of the LDK, Haki Rugova, suggests that it is a revenge act against law enforcement institutions. The moment and method of dismissal prove that this action is a clear threatening message for police officers, investigators, prosecutors, and judges - who dare to deal with the criminal offenses of the LDK ", it is said in the announcement.