The murder of Arlinda Zekaj in Vitomirica, Peja, has shocked the public and once again placed institutions’ duty to protect citizens at the center of attention. Five days after the incident, the resignation of Kosovo Police Director General Gazmend Hoxha and the suspension of several police and prosecutorial officials have prompted calls for a full investigation and accountability.
Suspicions surrounding the handling of requests for protection increased following the publication of audio recordings in which Arlinda sought help. The recordings have raised questions about whether the institutions handled the case properly and whether they intervened with all the necessary measures to prevent the tragedy.
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In addition to the resignations and suspensions, investigators must determine whether there were actions left uncompleted or negligence by the officials responsible, as well as whether responsibility could extend to management levels. The case has reopened debate over how the police, prosecution and justice system handle domestic violence cases.
A key question remains whether the incident will lead to concrete changes and more effective tools to protect victims. According to critics, institutions must intervene before situations escalate, rather than merely reacting after tragedies.
Speaking to Bota Sot, former investigator Agim Rexhepi and legal expert Blerim Burjani commented on institutional responsibility and the need for accountability, as well as the changes needed in the security and justice systems.
Rexhepi: The investigation must not be politicized; responsibility must reach the leadership if failure is proven
Agim Rexhepi said that the murder of Arlinda Zekaj and the way her requests for protection were handled require a serious and impartial investigation.
According to the former investigator, responsibility must be determined on the basis of evidence and the law, without turning the case into an instrument of political confrontation.
“The tragic murder of Arlinda Zekaj in Vitomirica, Peja, should touch everyone’s conscience. First and foremost, this is the loss of a life and a severe blow to her family. The case requires seriousness, institutional responsibility and justice, not politicization or short-term gains.
How Arlinda’s requests for protection were handled must be examined to the end. If it is proven that police or prosecutorial officials neglected their duties, they must answer before the law, regardless of their position, office or influence.
At the same time, the use of this case to construct a political narrative against the leaders of the Kurti government must be avoided. Domestic violence, murders and institutional failures to protect victims did not begin today. They have emerged over the years, under different governments, and accountability has not always been sought at the appropriate level.
This does not mean that previous mistakes can serve as a justification for those of today. On the contrary, the same standard must be applied to everyone: whoever has failed to fulfill their legal obligations must bear responsibility,” Rexhepi said.
In his remarks to Bota Sot, Rexhepi also addressed supervisory responsibility, saying that investigations must examine both the actions of the officials who handled the case and the way they were supervised.
He pointed out that political leaders cannot automatically be blamed for every crime, but institutional responsibility cannot be ruled out if it is supported by the facts.
“It must be borne in mind that the police and prosecution are professional institutions, with defined responsibilities and chains of command. Responsibility must begin with the individuals who had the specific duty to act, but it must also include leaders if investigations show that they knew of the risk and failed to take the appropriate measures.
Government leaders cannot automatically be held politically responsible for every crime that occurs in the country; likewise, institutional responsibility cannot be denied when it is proven by the facts. These are separate issues and must be assessed objectively.
It is good that, following the case, measures have been taken against police and prosecutorial officials, and that investigative and parliamentary mechanisms have been set in motion. But suspension is not punishment, nor is it the end of the investigation. The justice process must continue until those who acted, failed to act or had supervisory responsibility are identified,” he said.
Rexhepi said the case should serve to strengthen protection and improve coordination among the institutions responsible. According to him, justice must be applied equally to everyone, and human tragedies must not be turned into tools for party interests or for evading responsibility.
“Citizens’ lives must not be tied to political affiliations, and responsibility must not depend on party membership.
Arlinda Zekaj and all victims of domestic violence are entitled to justice. Families need the truth, while citizens deserve institutions that respond in time and protect them.
We must not wait for another tragedy to remind us of our obligations. This case should help improve protective measures, coordination among the police, prosecution and courts, and the creation of a genuine culture of accountability.
Justice must be impartial, responsibility must not be partisan, and protecting citizens’ lives must remain the state’s ongoing duty,” Rexhepi emphasized.
Burjani: Systemic failures have continued for years; changes are needed in the police, prosecution and courts
Legal expert Blerim Burjani told Bota Sot that the case of Arlinda Zekaj should not be viewed as an isolated failure. He said the incident should prompt an examination of how law-and-order and justice mechanisms function in Kosovo.
According to Burjani, institutions must ensure the proper handling of violence cases, risk assessment and timely intervention to protect victims. He called for reorganization and reforms to prevent failures from recurring.
“This is a matter of law and order, where failures have been systematic for years. Reorganization and reforms are needed in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council and the Kosovo Judicial Council. The role of politics can only be to provide services and care through social centers; the issue is specifically linked to the local police, prosecution and judicial system,” Burjani said.
Speaking about ways to prevent similar cases, he underlined the need for a functioning protective mechanism and for placing prevention at the top of the priorities of the institutions responsible.
“An effective protection mechanism must be created. Prevention must be the main guiding principle for law-and-order and justice bodies, as well as for social work centers,” Burjani concluded in comments to Bota Sot.
