Astrit Deharin expert called for investigation against Kosovo prosecutors

Through a media communiqué, the Group for Jury and Political Studies (GLPS) considers the findings of the Law Medicine Institute in Lozanne serious on the circumstances of losing the life of Astrit Dehari, former activist of the Vetevendosje Movement.

According to them, the fact that Kosovo institutions rushed to draw conclusions that are fully disassembled with the findings of the Law Medicine Institute in Lozanne is extremely disturbing, and the case for deep investigation not only of the circumstances of Astrit Dehar's death but also of prosecutors, police officers and other state officials of our Republic so easily described the case as suicide.

“We want to stress that the findings of the Law Medicine Institute are evidence that the state of Kosovo violated Astrit Dehar's right to life, giving him minimal protection at the time it was held in custody. The reason for keeping him in custody ʹ which is associated with the fact that he was an activist of an opposition political party adds to the state's responsibility in relation to the resulting consequence. Also, the failure of the prosecution bodies, and their haste to cite the case, is an indication of a criminal responsibility and intent. Nothing more than a fact matched with fact of legal medicine needed the public and the Dehari family, but the way State Prosecutor and other state entities acted demonstrated exactly the opposite“, it is said in the communiqué.

GLPS wants the investigation circle to expand, including all state officials (including prosecutors, police and legal doctors), who contributed to the description of the case and the release of an investigative conclusion that today turns out to have been unsupported in facts and scientific and criminal evidence.

Only bringing the whole chain to justice that brought this situation can sanction the effect created. Calls for random investigations by foreign states should not serve as a method for removing responsibility, rather it is time for local prosecutors to deal with the crime that has occurred in this case, said further in the communiqué.

GLPS also considers that relevant courts in Kosovo should determine state responsibility in the Dehari case, finding the state prosecutor, the judicial system and other bodies responsible for violating the law in life of Astrit, which is guaranteed with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The intentional or intentional negligience of executive organs in proportion to this case, including the Ministry of Justice, should be brought to justice as well. Kosovo cannot allow cases of murder to be concluded as suicide, and for this to be done through an organised prosecutorial and state-run system“, it is said in the end.