The throwing of red paint toward the KEDS building marked the moment of escalation of the protest against the increase in electricity prices in Prishtina, leading to the intervention of the Kosovo Police and the arrest of one person.

Protesters chanted against the announced rise in electricity bills. Meanwhile, following tensions near the KEDS building, an elderly man was arrested.

The organizers describe the process as unjust and harmful to citizens.

Activist Erbilin Ajdini accused KEDS of continuous and unjustified increases in electricity bills. He stated that in 2022 and 2023 citizens’ bills were raised under the justification of the global crisis, while this year, according to him, another increase of around 20 percent is being attempted.

“In 2022, KEDS asked for electricity bills to be increased, justifying it by saying prices were rising all over the world, and we believed them. The following year, KEDS made the same request, and although skeptical, we allowed them to steal a little more than the previous year. Today, KEDS simply reaches directly into our pockets and takes as much as it wants. We have already seen that this desire is never satisfied, that KEDS’ appetite is ready to suffocate us in order to increase their profits. If we do not comply, they threaten us with the whip of darkness. They tell us that without KEDS we would not have light in our neighborhoods, that without KEDS we would not have heating in our neighborhoods. They tell us the problem is our excessive consumption and not KEDS’ appetite. Last year they stole 16.1 percent, carried out by the KEDS–ZRRE–Government triangle. And this year they want to squeeze us even more and tell us there will be another increase of 20 percent; this is a trick of KEDS’ trade,” he said.

He warned of a boycott of electricity bills, as well as the blocking of roads and institutions if the price of electricity is increased.

“Behind us here, another trick is being prepared, one that will impoverish the people even more. But we can not let this trick pass. We are here to tell KEDS that our patience has run out and that you cannot behave like bullies and impose injustice wherever you set your eyes, adding another zero to your obligations. You cannot continue to steal from this people, from whom you have already stolen some of their most vital assets. You cannot continue to bill us for your failures and your desires for growth, on our backs. For years now, you have not been in our service; you are against us, you are our biggest loan sharks. Therefore, from now on we will confront you, we will follow you and we will boycott you until this institution returns to the side of the people. The moment you raise the bills, we start the boycott. We will boycott the bills and block roads and institutions until this country starts working for us and not for capital,” he stressed.

Citizen Sevdije Sadiku, speaking from within the crowd, expressed her concern about the heavy burden being borne by Kosovar families.

“The people will be left in the dark. A large part of us will remain in debt to KEK and we will be left in the dark; this is our government. They have arranged things for themselves, they drive black SUVs, they have money, they have luxury, they eat good food. How are we supposed to live, what are we supposed to eat and drink? We only have to pay electricity and water and fulfill the state’s payments. And what are we supposed to eat? Medicines are expensive, illnesses have increased, how are we supposed to live? What are they thinking? Every day people are leaving for a better life. We are in a very rich country; we have sun, water, wind, and it does not mean we must rely only on coal for electricity—there is renewable energy, and electricity could be much cheaper,” she said.

Another elderly citizen also expressed his anger over the situation.

“A criminal government has injured hundreds of police officers, so that today these poor children of ours arrest their own parents for opposing the increase in electricity prices. I, a 70-year-old man, will lead this people to overthrow this government, a criminal government. A prime minister who runs away from the people is not the prime minister of the people of Kosovo,” he said.

Protesters continued the protest through the squares of Prishtina, stopping in front of the Government building. There, the police had set up a cordon, but with persistence, the protesters managed to reach the entrance of the government building, where they placed slogans reading “STOP theft through electricity bills,” “KEDS leaves us in the dark and robs us,” and “Electricity prices rise, the people burn.”

The organizer of the protest, Egzon Hajdari, accused the Energy Regulatory Office (ZRRE) of approving KEDS’ requests without taking citizens’ interests into account. Speaking in front of the government building, he called for greater citizen mobilization in future protests and demanded immediate intervention.