Opposition Leader Arrested In Kosovo

May 01, 2015

Kosovar police say an opposition leader has been arrested for obstructing an official from performing his duties.

A police spokesman says Dardan Molliqaj was arrested May 1 at the main international airport on his way out of the country. Party officials say he was planning to meet supporters in Switzerland, home to a large Kosovar immigrant community.

Molliqaj is a high-ranking official of the nationalist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party. He led an antigovernment protest in January that ended in clashes with police. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to five years in prison.

The party, which has 16 lawmakers in the 120-seat assembly, accuses the government of rampant corruption and has filed dozens of corruption charges against officials in Kosovo's courts.

Based on reporting by AP