2013 protests in Kosovo

The 2013 protests began in Pristina, Kosovo after people started to receive high electricity bills. Sparked by comments on social media, in February more than 1000 people gathered in front of Kosovo's Electricity Corporation building.[1] The protests continued in the next several weeks, eventually turning into a protest against corruption. Some of the main slogans from the protest where "KEK pumping bills", "No country with thieves" and "Stop the theft, develop the state". Government responded with great caution during the protests, promising fulfillment of all requirements set by protesters.[2]

2013 protest in Kosovo
DateFebruary-May 2013
Location
Prishtina,  Kosovo
Goals
  • Investigation on the rise of electricity bills.
  • No further increases in the price of electricity.
  • Resignation of Kosovo's Electricity Corporation CEO, Arben Gjukaj.
MethodsPeaceful demonstrations, marches.
Resulted inKosovo Parliament investigated the high electricity bills in a report. Electricity price did not increase. The Government started the procedure to remove Arben Gjukaj from the position of CEO of KEC.
Parties to the civil conflict
Lead figures
*Civil society *Government of Kosovo
Number
4,000-12,000 citizens (KFOR estimates)
Unknown number of Police Officers
Casualties and losses
0 arrested
0 injured and wounded

Corruption

The protest where sparked by high electricity bills but turned soon into a more widespread corruption protest. In May protests spread in other Kosovo cities.

Impact

Because of the protest, a foreseen increase of 5% for the electricity bill was stopped. The Parliament started an investigation which resulted in a detailed report sent to the Government and Electricity Regulatory Authority of Kosovo. It was also seen as an important protest because it was one of the rare ones in Kosovo started by the population without any interference by political parties or NGO's.[3]

See also

References
  1. 2013 Protests in Pristina Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, US Embassy Kosovo
  2. Kosovo Stages Mass Protest Over Corruption, BIRN 2013
  3. Protests in Kosovo, Agon Hamza 2013, socialist.ca
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