Kosovo citizens could legalise arms without permission

Currently in the hands of Kosovo citizens are about 200 unlicensed weapons.

The deadline for entry into force of this decision is December 17th and lasts 6 months until June 17th next year.

That decision he has made MPB has spoken to Deputy Prime Minister Izmi Zeka, who has said the Weapons Law has obliged them to make such a decision.

He has considered it a good opportunity for citizens to present their weapons.

The law that was issued earlier for legalisation of weapons has forced us to find the right time even formally to issue a decision that allows for legalisation of weapons for all Kosovo citizens, of course those who somehow carry illegal weapons. All of a new possibility, all states have done this and these actions, both we like Kosovo and the interior minister have made a decision, of course, which is harmonised with the law on legalisation of weapons... It's a good opportunity for citizens to present their weapons, and in some form by submitting to procedures to legalize and equip themselves with documents that are based precisely on the law on weapons management<1>, he said.

Zeka also claimed that on the basis of international estimates in Kosovo there are about 200,000 illegal weapons, and the MPB decision would enable citizens to keep them legally.

“Creating a new opportunity for citizens not to carry weapons through their homes in some form, but to undergo the legalisation process of institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. We need both citizens and we need both as well as the Republic of Kosovo that on the basis of some analysis international estimates claim there are around 200 thousand illegal weapons and calculate that, by this step, with this decision of the MPB, we will create good opportunities for citizens to take a regulatory process and keep their weapons through the house in an official legal way”, the deputy minister of MPB said.

Zeka also said that weapons legalisation procedures will not be loaded, but as the MPB is obliged to review weapons.

While stressing that legalising weapons will provide greater security for citizens, as there will be reduced killings and other problems in the country.

Zeka called for citizens to legalise their weapons because this decision is vital to national security and Kosovo's perspective.

“Those who have illegal weapons so far apply to legalise through institutions in their municipalities. It will be the police, it will be other aspects of security but it's vital for Kosovo's perspective, we have the state of Kosovo, we don't need to carry an illegal weapon, we need it to be enough for the weapons that remain from the war, and it's a war issue, the museum, and those who have procedure and to have access to it, as do other gunkeepers. It is very important for the state, for the perspective, but not just for the perspective, for national security of the Republic of Kosovo”, he said.

He has not ruled out the possibility that the period for legalizing weapons will last more than six months.

Internal Affairs' decision to legalise weapons also says that during the deadline for legalisation and handover of weapons, ammunition and explosives will be suspended the implementation of Article 374 of the Republic of Kosovo's Criminal Code for Property, Control or Unauthorised Weapons Property.

In this regard, the deputy minister of Internal Affairs said that this article will not apply to the people who are in weapons legalisation procedures, but not to the people who fight guns.

The moment we officially proclaim the legalisation on December 17th, that's why this article is suspended for all those people who come, but they also apply for legalisation is suspended for them, that by this moment they are illegal aspects, from the moment they go into the process, it's not worth this article, but in the next case, in the extreme case they're fighting arms, of course, the law is worth the same as it was “, Zeka has declared.

According to Article 374 of the Penal Code, anyone holding ownership controls or owns weapons contrary to the applicable law regarding such weapons is fined up to 7 thousand and 500 euros or to prison for up to five years. And if criminal offence from the first paragraph of this article includes more than four weapons, or more than 400 rounds, the chief is sentenced to prison for two to 10 years.

Otherwise, the Ministry of Internal Affairs in co-operation with the Kosovo Police will organise a awareness campaign through which citizens will be informed about legalisation procedures.