Kosovo's Acting Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Dimal Basha said on Tuesday that the accident on the “Ibrahim Rugova” highway, in which a woman died, was not caused by soil, adding that a full clarification of the case should await the police report.

Basha made these comments when asked by journalists about online clashes with the Mayor of Prishtina, Përparim Rama, saying that Rama had allegedly “defamed” him twice in a row.

“We have not had a clash; there have been defamations from Mayor Rama. Two consecutive defamations. The first was trying to attribute the accident to soil on the highway. As you know, the road there was cleared; it did not happen as a result of soil. Therefore, that is the first defamation. And his second defamation, by Mayor Rama, is also unacceptable, when he tries to politicize a road tragedy,” he said.

Basha added that instead of politicizing the issue, condolences should be expressed to the family, calling the Prishtina mayor “shameless.”

“This is unacceptable. We should leave the deceased and their family in peace. Offer condolences, but it was not caused by soil on the highway. Therefore, I refuse to comment further; I did not react earlier because we must wait for the police report, which will reveal the full truth. But this politicization of road deaths is unacceptable for anyone. We cannot deal with people who die on the road and then politicize it. The mayor does this; he is shameless, but I do not expect better from him,” Basha said.

The polemics between Dimal Basha and Përparim Rama followed a reaction by Rama regarding the accident that occurred on Sunday.

Rama had written on social media:

“Another day where citizens pay the price with their lives and taxes, while the government continues to live in its own propaganda reality. For every failure, the past is blamed; for every propaganda success, credit is taken. A government that invests more in propaganda than in solving real problems does not represent the change it promised. It represents arrogance, incompetence, and a culture of endless excuses, while citizens pay the consequences with their lives and taxes.”

Basha responded on Facebook:

“The one who made me minister is Albin Kurti, while you became mayor through night deals with PDK. You serve them; I serve the citizens. Why are you lying to Lumir and dismissing directors? We do not allow games. And soon, with justice reforms, you will no longer write Facebook posts but letters from prison!”