The Kosovo Law Institute is continuing to collect signatures for a petition seeking amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo. The initiative calls for the use of public funds for electoral gain and the deliberate failure to implement Constitutional Court decisions to be defined as criminal offenses.

Naim Jakaj, a senior researcher at KLI, told KosovaPress that citizens have shown strong interest in supporting the petition with their signatures since it was launched.

According to Jakaj, interest has been high since the 23rd, when the tent was set up. He said that citizens were first informed about the initiative and then signed it. KLI representatives spent two days each in Prizren and Gjakova, while they are now in Pristina for the fourth day. Signature collection will continue tomorrow in Peja and on Thursday in Gjilan, in the main squares of those cities.

Hundreds of citizens have signed the petition so far, while civil society organizations, media outlets, members of parliament, and representatives of political parties have also expressed their support.

Jakaj said that the number of signatures has reached triple digits and that KLI is very pleased with the result. He emphasized that the initiative is also being supported by other civil society organizations and local media outlets, as well as by members of parliament and local representatives of political parties.

According to him, the signatories include the mayor, Mr. Totaj, and the mayor of the Municipality of Gjilan, Mr. Alban Hyseni. Jakaj added that, at the very moment he was speaking, officials from other political parties in Pristina were also signing the petition, while other stakeholders are expected to join the initiative.

In the coming days, KLI plans to hold meetings with trade unions, other social groups, war veterans’ associations, chambers of commerce, local producers, and other trade organizations, with the aim of making the initiative more inclusive and more robust.

The petition, which was launched on July 23, aims to submit a draft law to the Assembly of Kosovo to amend these two provisions of the Criminal Code.

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According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora press release, the document was signed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo, Kreshnik Ahmeti, and the Secretary General of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Nikolaus Marschik.

The statement says that the agreement provides for the possibility for family members of diplomatic and consular staff to engage in gainful employment during their service in the host country, creating more favorable conditions for the families of diplomats from both countries.

After the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Ahmeti met with Secretary General Marschik, with whom he discussed relations between the two countries, opportunities for further expanding institutional and economic cooperation, as well as the latest political and security developments in the Western Balkans and Europe.

During this visit, political consultations were also held between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo and Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. The delegation of the Republic of Kosovo was led by Deputy Minister Ahmeti, while the Austrian delegation was led by Ambassador Elisabeth Kornfeind.

These consultations addressed issues related to advancing bilateral relations, agreements currently in process, the organization of the upcoming economic forum between Kosovo and Austria, developments in the Western Balkans, as well as the European integration process of the Republic of Kosovo.

According to the statement, both sides expressed their readiness to continue regular political consultations and to steer cooperation toward concrete results and new bilateral initiatives.

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