Kosovo’s Top Court Suspends Hydropower Plant Water Permit, 29 November 2021,

Kosovo’s Supreme Court...suspended the water permit of the Brezovica hydro-power plant in Shterpce/Strpce, making it impossible for the construction company to apply for a necessary environmental permit.

Two non-governmental organizations, Group for Legal and Political Studies, GLPS, and GAIA Kosovo, which had requested annulment of the water permits for the Brezovica hydro-power plant in court...welcomed the Supreme Court ruling, overturning an ealier decision of the Kosovo Court of Appeals.

The Court of Appeals previously decided not to suspend the work on the hydro-power plant, claiming suspension of work would be against the public interest.

However, the Supreme Court decided that the plaintiffs had provided enough evidence that the public would be damaged by the power plant and that suspension of permits is not against the public interest, neither does it cause substantial losses to the constructing company...

Fetahu (from GLPS) said the human rights of the Shterpce/Strpce citizens were violated due to them not having been informed about a “public debate” that was held on the hydro-power plants...