Reaction of the Ombudsperson to reports of violence committed by the Kosovo Police
08/07/2025
Pristina, 8th of June, 2025 – The Ombudsperson’s Institution has been following with concern the reported cases where Kosovo Police officers are suspected of having used violence against citizens in two separate cases – one case that occurred in Klina and the other case recently in Lipjan, in which a citizen lost his life as a result of police intervention.
The use of force beyond what is necessary constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights, guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and international human rights instruments, including the European Convention on Human Rights.
On this occasion, the Ombudsperson recalls that the police have the duty to protect citizens and maintain public order, but always in accordance with the law and with full respect for human dignity. Any excess of legal authorizations and any form of violence or ill-treatment are unacceptable and must be treated with full responsibility.
The Ombudsperson has opened an ex officio investigation procedure to assess whether there have been human rights violations in these cases, as well as to monitor the actions of the responsible institutions, including the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Police Inspectorate.
The Ombudsperson’s Institution demands full transparency from the competent institutions regarding the investigation of the cases. It is also important to emphasize the importance of implementing professional standards in every police intervention and the necessity of continuous training for law enforcement officers.
The Ombudsperson will continue to closely follow the developments surrounding these cases and will take all necessary legal actions to protect the rights of citizens.