Kosovo TV blast “an attack on free speech”, according to president

Last night Kosovo public broadcaster RTK suffered a hand grenade blast, which President Hashim Thaçi has labelled an attempt to stifle free speech.

“This criminal attack on the public broadcaster is an attack on thought, speech and free media [...] I appeal to all representatives [of institutions] and political parties not to lynch media in their discourse, but to protect free speech,” Mr Thaçi said in a statement.

Although RTK staff were inside the building at the time of the attack, no injuries were reported. An investigation has been launched by the police.

This development is the third attack involving explosives in Kosovo this month. In recent weeks, explosive devices were both thrown at the national parliament building and found on the roof of a house belonging to the head of the government commission for demarcation, Murat Meha.

According to the RTK management, the grenade blast was a direct attack on the work of the broadcaster.

“This criminal act against the public media is a direct attack on RTK’s work, democratic values and free speech,” said the management.

Source: Balkan Insight