Peja prosecutor’s office provides details on institutional interventions before Arlinda Zekaj’s murder

The Basic Prosecution Office in Peja has issued further clarifications about the actions taken by institutions before and after the murder of Arlinda Zekaj, addressing her request to enforce a court order and earlier cases she had reported.

According to a statement from the prosecution, on October 22, the institution’s chief prosecutor received a request from Zekaj, who has since died. In her request, she expressed concern about how her previous cases had been handled and sought enforcement of a court order.

After reviewing the circumstances, the chief prosecutor referred the matter to the competent institutions, including the Kosovo Police, the Basic Court in Peja, the Directorate for Social Welfare, the Center for Social Work, and the Office for Victim Protection and Assistance.

At the same time, a case was opened to verify Zekaj’s allegations. The investigation aimed to determine whether the actions or omissions of the officials she had named constituted elements of the criminal offense of abuse of official position or authority.

The prosecution said that on October 16, 2026, the court had ordered Zekaj’s former husband to allow her to return to and use their shared home. The court had also issued a six-month protection order, which took effect immediately.

The institution clarified that, under the court ruling, the Kosovo Police was responsible for enforcing the order and informing the court if it was enforced or if any obstacle arose.

When Zekaj requested enforcement of the order and her return to the shared home, the Kosovo Police informed the duty prosecutor of the situation.

After assessing the circumstances and potential risks, the prosecutor determined that her immediate return home could endanger her life and safety. The prosecutor therefore contacted Zekaj’s brothers and asked that she stay temporarily with her family.

Although Zekaj insisted on returning to the shared home, the state prosecutor, citing the assessed risk, instructed that she be taken to her brothers’ home.

At Zekaj’s request, an official document was also prepared explaining the reasons for the decision that she stay with her family. She agreed to go there but asked to be escorted by police the following day so she could return to the shared home.

After assessing the risk, the case prosecutor and police investigators decided that a patrol would remain near the home during her planned return.

The prosecution said that yesterday, at 19:48, the Kosovo Police notified the duty prosecutor of a suspected domestic violence incident at Zekaj’s home.

Zekaj and her former husband, J.S., were taken to the police station. Proceedings were initiated over the criminal offense of failure to obey a court order, and J.S. was detained for 48 hours.

While the case was being handled, Zekaj was offered accommodation at a shelter. However, she declined and asked to return to the shared home, where her son and belongings were.

At around 21:00, a police patrol escorted her to the house.

Just minutes after she arrived, the duty prosecutor was informed that Zekaj had been struck with a hard object inside the house. Her brother-in-law, A.S., was suspected in the incident.

After receiving the report, the relevant Kosovo Police units, the chief prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Peja, and the duty prosecutor from the Serious Crimes Department went to the scene. They monitored the situation and took the initial investigative steps.

Meanwhile, on October 23, the prosecution indicted Zekaj’s former husband, J.S., for the criminal offense of threatening her within a family relationship.

The Basic Prosecution Office in Peja said that Zekaj’s allegations had been taken seriously and that steps had been taken to refer them to the relevant institutions and investigate the possible responsibility of the officials she had named.

The institution expressed its deep sorrow over Arlinda Zekaj’s tragic death and extended its sincere condolences to her family.

The prosecution also called for the case to be investigated fully, objectively, and professionally, with the aim of clarifying all the circumstances and determining any potential responsibility of those involved.

According to the prosecution, the Kosovo Police continues its efforts to locate and arrest the suspect, A.S., who has not yet been arrested.