PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) – Opposition lawmakers released tear gas Monday in Kosovo’s parliament as they once again tried to pressure the government into renouncing deals with Serbia and Montenegro.
Clouds of smoke from two tear gas canisters forced lawmakers out of the debating chamber. Local media reported the parliamentary session could resume in a different building later Monday, likely excluding the opposition.
Glauk Konjufca of the Self-Determination Movement told reporters the opposition would continue different forms of pressure on the government “to make it understand that the Aug. 25 deals … cannot pass in Kosovo and that the opposition is determined to use all the methods so these two deals damaging Kosovo’s statehood are not applied.”
One of the deals gives more powers to ethnic Serbs in Kosovo while the other demarcates the border with Montenegro.
Over the past three months, the opposition has blocked Kosovo’s parliament with tear gas, pepper spray, whistles and water bottles to protest the deals and their supporters have held violent protests in Pristina.