Experts demand immediate institutional response to rising crime in the country

A shootout in the center of Podujeva, which left four people wounded, including a random passerby, has once again raised the alarm about the state of public safety in Kosovo.

Retired Kosovo Police Lieutenant Colonel Refki Morina described the recent incidents as a clear signal for law enforcement institutions. According to him, mitigating these phenomena starts with family and school education and necessarily requires full coordination between state and societal mechanisms, where courts and prosecution must be faster and stricter in delivering justice.

The concern is also supported by concrete statistics. In the Ferizaj region, authorities have recorded a noticeable increase in minor bodily injuries and cases of illegal weapon possession this year, compared to the first six months of last year. Faced with this situation, the Police have called on citizens to cooperate in preventing and cracking down on these criminal offenses.

Based on officially provided data, by the end of May 2026, 9 cases of murder have been recorded, including those classified as “aggravated murder.” All these episodes have been investigated and criminal charges have been filed with prosecution bodies. As part of preventive measures, during 2025 law enforcement forces seized 1,931 weapons of various categories and 39,116 rounds of ammunition of different calibers.

Lawyer Valdet Hoxha, on his part, stressed that it is time for the state to take concrete actions to uncover the causes behind these crimes. He highlighted the urgent need for security institutions to clearly identify the motives and problems, so that preventive strategies and punitive policies align and accurately address the roots of the phenomenon.