Sveçla: Report reveals serious police violations in the Arlinda Zekaj case

Eleven Kosovo Police officers have been suspended following the findings of a report examining police actions and inaction in connection with the killing of Arlinda Zekaj on October 25. The news was announced by Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla.

The minister said the Kosovo Police Inspectorate had reviewed how the police actions and omissions were handled. He said he submitted the report on the case to Prime Minister Albin Kurti the previous day.

Sveçla said the review conducted over the past 72 hours had confirmed concerns raised earlier. According to him, shortcomings were identified in how reports were handled and in the fulfillment of institutional obligations to protect Zekaj’s life.

“Over the past few days, through the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, we have reviewed every action and omission by the Kosovo Police. The assessment over these 72 hours has clarified and confirmed our concerns, highlighting failures in handling reports and in the institutional responsibility to protect her life. Yesterday, I submitted the report on the actions of the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Police Inspectorate to Prime Minister Kurti,” Sveçla said.

Among the suspended officers are the regional police director in Peja, the head of regional investigations, the commander and deputy commander of the Peja police station, as well as other senior officers and investigators at the station.

The minister also listed the positions held by the suspended officers: “Based on the findings to date, 11 police officers were suspended yesterday. Among them are the regional police director in Peja, the head of regional investigations at the Peja Regional Police Directorate, the commander and deputy commander of the Peja police station, the heads of the station’s investigations and operations units, the commander of the Vitomiricë substation, and four investigators from the Peja police station,” Sveçla said.

According to him, the report identifies serious violations by several police officers and members of the chain of command in Peja. The findings are also expected to be reviewed and assessed by the prosecutor’s office.

Among the shortcomings identified, Sveçla cited the failure to enforce the first protection order, delays in enforcing the second order, failure to review the request for a reassessment of the risk, and failure to take steps to increase police capacity to ensure Arlinda’s protection.

“The identified violations include failure to enforce the first protection order and delays in carrying out the second order, failure to take into account the request for a reassessment of the risk, and the lack of measures to increase police capacity to ensure Arlinda’s safety. These are some of the most serious violations identified so far, but further investigations may uncover other facts and responsibilities,” he said.

Sveçla stressed that the suspensions do not bring the process to a close. He called for a full investigation and legal accountability for anyone who neglected the reports or the victim’s warnings.

“I want to emphasize that suspension alone is not enough: a full and thorough investigation must be carried out, and legal responsibility must be established for every instance of negligence, every report that was not treated seriously, and every warning Arlinda gave about the danger to her life that was not followed by an appropriate institutional response,” the minister said.