IKD seeks institutional responsibility for Astrit Dehar's death

The Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD) has expressed deep concern that even two years after the late Astrit Dehari's suspicious death at the correctional institution, unfortunately the justice institutions still do not have an official response to the case.

The IKD points out that failure to comply with the Dehar case, which two years ago has died in the correctional institution, while being held under detention, testifies to irresponsibly and professional co-ordination among local institutions, which, instead of taking concrete action to whiteen the case, have played a wrong role in public, becoming part of political wars.

“The IKD has reacted to this case and other cases of suspicious deaths in the correctional system in Kosovo. IKD recalls that in any democratic state the minimum standards of care of persons deprived of freedom should be applied as a result of judicial procedures. The security and care of arrested persons or those suffering punishment at corrective institutions or detention centres is directly duty and the responsibility of state”, said in response.

The IKD estimates that the manner of handling the Dehar case from the moment of his suspicious death has been completely wrong, interpreting each action and failing to act on officials of justice institutions and other institutions contrary to legal obligations.

The non-professional treatment of the case from the moment of death has exacerbated the situation as a whole, making it difficult to investigate fair, independent and impartial. Unfortunately, such an approach is still continuing, where, in this regard, amulus has been created, while the family and the public still do not have an official answer, and based on facts and reliable evidence”, it is further said in response.

The IKD stresses that the Dehar case should be addressed with priority, and state institutions should have all resources needed for dawning this case as quickly as possible.

“The IKD had also requested that specialised agencies and independent foreign experts be invited to contribute to the dawning of the truth about this suspicious death, and despite commitment in this regard, there are still no concrete results for this case. At the same time, The IKD requires that all be spared from the comments and interpretations of the case, leaving the tracking bodies to investigate the case independently, impartially and professionally. From the moment the information of Astrit Dehar's suspicious death, The IKD has called for institutional responsibility in this case, independent, professional, fair and urgent investigation to address the responsibility correctly and eliminate the possibility of misunderstandings and misappropriations about this case”, the IKD's response is said among other things.