About 200 citizens' complaints to judges and prosecutors during 2023

It told them that 54 percent of citizens are unaware of what prosecutors and judges might complain about, while 28 percent have knowledge of where to present their demands.

Justice Minister Albulen Haxhiu presented some changes to the current draft of the draft law on the disciplinary responsibility of judges and prosecutors. He said the changes continue to be in the finding phase.

This law aims to strengthen the role of the discipline of judges and prosecutors, as well as increase responsibility, to create a consistency. The basis has been added that prosecutors have real estate with court decisions, the panel of 5 members will become no longer ad-hoc but stable panels that operate consistently”, Haxhiu said.

On the other hand, Haxhiu said that in the event of office violations at the workplace or abuses, this law envisions penalties against prosecutors and judges, including pay cuts.

Albana Hasani from the FOL Movement made presentation of findings from the report, information and perception of citizens over the submission of disciplinary complaints to prosecutors judges.

“53 percent of citizens are aware that they can file complaints against judges and prosecutors, while 47 percent are unconscious. 126 complaints have been filed against judges and 71 against prosecutors during 2023. 54 percent of citizens are unaware of what they might complain about prosecutors and judges. 28 percent have competent knowledge of where to present their demands. 72 percent not informed. 42 per cent of citizens have deemed it difficult to file disciplinary complaints against prosecutors and judges”, Hasani said.

The FOL Movement also made a recommendation to the Prosecutorial Council to publish the official page form as helping citizens get easier access to complaints against judges and prosecutors.

Niman Hajdari, from the Ombudsman Institute, said that in 2023 the number of citizens who have sought help with the ombudsman has increased slightly.

The current law allows citizens complaints to appeal to the ombudsman. In 2021, 12 complaints have been accepted by the ombudsman, 2023 notes a small increase set forth by citizens. The IAP has after a good, challenging co-operation for the AP is that the law has not been harmonised with the AP body”, Hajdari said.

Nicola Skaramuzzo, from the EU Office in Kosovo, said great importance should be devoted to civil society, taking into account the fact that it affects society.

The “conditioned more importance to civil society, because they are likely to show that institutions should be accounting. They should have the capacity to follow and engage authorities in a dialogue, it is important that civil society do this”, he said.

He also recommended that professional companies be used for research on these polls.

When you invest in citizens it's good to differentiate those who have had experiences with the judicial system and those who haven't had experience, or think highly of following standards and long-terms that will be critical. I'd try to recommend that you use professional survey companies to reach more people. 430 citizens have responded in your report the largest number will also affect political decisions”, Scaramuzzo said.

Gezim Shala, senior legal researcher from the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), said the first problem regarding this law is an arbitrator towards judges and prosecutors, while the second problem concerns a selective approach to them.

The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council has a lack of will to work with this law. This has also happened as a reason for not reacting to the Ombudsman's institution. The report is of great importance and makes a complement. The strategy for rule of law has seen the need to boost citizens' awareness of the disciplinary law against prosecutors and judges. The IKD has monitored the implementation of this law, for the violations we have found we have filed complaints to see where the problems --” are, Shala said.