IKD blames the institutions for death in Wyman: They have promoted the lake as a bathing zone

The IKD emphasises that under the Kosovo Water Law, the Ministry of Environment, Space Planning and Infrastructure (MMPHI) in co-operation with the Ministry of Health, Comunas and water service delivery companies, by law assigns washing zones. According to Administratorial Guide for the Penitentiaries, this obligation has had to be fulfilled by 2018, but there is no public announcement that Uyman Lake is designated as a washing area.

There is no public announcement as to whether competent institutions have designated the Weyman Lake as a washing zone. Moreover, there are no reports of permission or ban in this area. Meanwhile, the actual situation is that this lake is currently being used for bath by citizens”, said in response.

Despite that, The IKD says that the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo instead of fulfilling legal obligations pertaining to the appointment of washing zones and management arrangements, as required by Law and Administrative Direction, have promoted the lake as a washing zone.

“Government officials, including deputies and ministers, have gone on their own to the Lake of Uyman and publicly distributed images of people bathing in the Lake of Uyman, presenting it as a resort and implying for citizens that this is a washing area”, said further in response.

According to the IKD, institutional representatives have consistently promoted Ujman Lake as a place of bath, while reports were that Kosovo Police were guarding citizens while bathing in Lake Weyman.

In response, it is said that in all this situation, being in effect the Law on Waters and New Administrative Guides, failure to meet these actions could also enforce the responsibility of public institutions in the tragic death of July 27th.

The IKD has immediately sought to initiate an institutional investigation into the failure to comply with legal obligations and allowing the use of Weeman Lake as a washing area, as a result of which came to the death of the young man.

In the sense of the GjEDN jurisdiction, these actions could result in violations of the right in life in relation to the citizen who suffered a tragic loss of life and could result in general danger for other citizens. In the face of all these circumstances, The IKD wants to immediately initiate an institutional investigation into the failure to comply with legal obligations and allowing the use of Weeman Lake as a washing zone, which culminated in the tragic death of July 27th. The IKD also requires that irresponsible public communication be stopped by officials promoting washing or jumping into these areas without risk assessment and without adequate signaling”, it is further said.

On the other hand, the IKD's Centre for Free Jury Assistance expresses the will, willingness and full commitment to provide the bereaved's family with free legal assistance in the sense of following legal ways for determining rights violations of the deceased.

Full response:

Kosovo's “Institute for Justice (IKD) requires institutional and public accountability on the responsibility of state institutions over a person's tragic death on July 27th 2025 at Lake Weyman.

Under the Kosovo Water Law, the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (MMPHI) in co-operation with the Ministry of Health, Commissions and water service delivery companies, with a sub-lawing order areas for washing. According to Administrative Guide No. 20/2015 for the bathing grounds, this obligation has had to be fulfilled as far away as 2018. Determining a certain washing area, according to this Administrative Guide, attracts behind itself the obligation of the company of nine (9) management measures.

With regard to this obligation, so far, there is no public announcement whether competent institutions have assigned Ujman Lake as a bathing zone. Moreover, there are no reports of permission or ban in this area. In the meantime, the actual situation is that this lake is now being used for citizen bathing.

Institutions of the Republic of Kosovo instead of fulfilling legal obligations in terms of assigning bathing zones and managing measures, as required by Law and Administrative Guide, have promoted the lake as a washing area. Government officials, including MPs and ministers, have gone to Uyman Lake and publicly distributed images of people bathing in the Lake of Uyman, presenting it as a resort and implying for citizens that this is a washing area.

The Weyman Lake serves as one of the most important sources of drinking water in Kosovo, providing drinking water with a considerable share of the population. According to Administrative Guide No. 15/2017 for criteria for determining protected water resources zones [enit 9.2], lakes and accumulates are classified as surface water resources. This Administrative Guide, in any of its articles, does not specify a provision that allows citizens to bathe. In spite of that, institutional representatives have consistently promoted Uyman Lake as a legitimate washing ground, while reporting was that Kosovo Police were guarding citizens while bathing in Lake Weyman.

In all this situation, being in effect the Law on Waters and New Administration Guides, does not comply with these actions can also enforce the responsibility of public institutions in the tragic death of July 27th.

According to the European Court of Human Rights ( G Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights tasks states not only to refrain from taking life “objectively” but also to take necessary measures to protect the lives of people under their jurisdiction (See the occasion: DIDNY, Calender v. Turkey, 2009, par.42).

In the concrete case, the failure to fulfil legal obligations by institutions, promoting Uyman Lake as a washing area, lack of signaling the ban on washing, and not institutional reaction could be factors to the tragic death of July 27th. In terms of the DIDN jurisdiction, these actions could result in violations of the right in life in relation to the citizen who suffered a tragic loss of life and could result in general danger for other citizens.

In the face of all these circumstances, The IKD wants to immediately initiate an institutional investigation into the failure to comply with legal obligations and allowing the use of Weeman Lake as a washing zone, which culminated in the tragic death of July 27th. The IKD also wants to stop irresponsible public communication by officials promoting washing or jumping into these areas without risk assessment and adequate signaling.

On the other hand, the IKD's Centre for Free Jury Assistance expresses the will, willingness and full commitment to provide the family of the deceased free legal assistance in the sense of following legal ways for determining copyright violations in life to the late“.