Protesters outside parliament throw pyrotechnics, Kosovo Police respond with tear gas

Protesters outside the Kosovo Assembly threw pyrotechnic devices this evening, prompting Kosovo Police to respond with tear gas, Kosovo Press reports.

Police closed access to Skanderbeg Square, where a large number of demonstrators had gathered.

Police detained a nephew of Hashim Thaci, Klan Kosova reported.

Police officers used large quantities of tear gas to disperse demonstrators from the area surrounding the parliament building and also deployed a water cannon. The square in front of the building was filled with smoke, and police succeeded in pushing the protesters away from the parliament.

Earlier, due to the tense situation, police formed a double cordon near the Assembly building.

Tensions had also been running high outside parliament during the afternoon, with demonstrators refusing to allow MPs to leave the Assembly and demanding that the amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers be adopted in the second reading.

However, after Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti and PDK President Bedri Hamza failed to reach an agreement, it became clear that no parliamentary session would be held this evening.

At around 7 p.m., Self-Determination MPs began leaving the parliament building.

Additional police forces have been deployed at the entrances to and exits from the courtyard of the Kosovo Assembly.