Kosovo
Gërvalla, Sveçla refuse to resign over Zekaj killing; Peja and Mitrovica protest: “How many more Arlindas?”
The justice minister said the killing “could most likely have been prevented,” while the interior minister reported 155 active high-risk domestic violence cases.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 30, 2026, 17:10 · Updated 19:02 · 2 min read
In brief
- The National Coordinator's report finds delays by the Peja court beyond legal deadlines and failures by prosecutors.
- Gërvalla and Sveçla said their resignation would not help; activists warn of protests until they step down.
- The Prosecutorial Council links the killing to the negligence of Peja's chief prosecutor and opens disciplinary proceedings.
Justice Minister Donika Gërvalla and Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla on Friday presented reports on the handling of the Arlinda Zekaj case, but rejected protesters' demands that they resign.
“She was not killed without warning”
“The most worrying finding is that Arlinda Zekaj was not killed without warning,” Gërvalla said, adding that the report is only partially complete because some institutions had not responded. According to her, Zekaj first reported the violence on July 10. The Basic Court in Peja, which had to rule within seven days on her Sept. 9 objection, scheduled a hearing only for Sept. 24, and after postponements it was held on Oct. 13.
Sveçla said 11 police officers had been suspended and that, at Kurti's request, 155 active high-risk cases had been identified. Still, both ministers said their departure would not help. “I understand the protesters' indignation and anger,” Sveçla said.
Protests and the KPK decision
Chanting “How many more Arlindas?” and “Justice for Arlinda,” citizens in Peja marched from the municipality to the court and the prosecutor's office, while in Mitrovica protesters walked from “Isa Boletini” square to the police station. “We will keep protesting until they resign,” said Neri Ferizi of the organization “Fourth Wave.” Ehat Miftaraj of the Kosovo Law Institute told RFE/RL that the ministers' news conference should have ended with resignations.
The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPK) published its reasoning for suspending Peja's chief prosecutor, Lumturije Vuçetaj, and the case prosecutor, Arlinda Nallbani-Gacaferri. According to the KPK, the fatal outcome resulted from Vuçetaj's continued negligence, while the prosecutor had instructed on Oct. 22 that the suspect A.S., who had threatened Zekaj, be interviewed as a witness. Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against both.
