IKD: Justice must act on attacks, without creating concern and uncertainty in citizens

Kosovo police remain one of the most reliable institutions in the Republic of Kosovo. This trust and support for the Kosovo Police should not be misused and exploited for party and political interests.

The IKD clearly points out that it condemns any form of physical violence, anyone that is committed, anyone that is directed. Individuals suspected of attacking in question should be treated by competent organs and held accountable according to the law. Justice in such cases should be effective, effective and impartial, through regular police and investigative procedures, as it does under normal circumstances for similar cases, and not through images of mobilizing special units that create concern among citizens, strain the situation on the ground and give the impression of using the police force for political management of a particular incident.

The Kosovo Police's professional and operational independence constitutes one of the main pillars of democratic state and rule of law. Police structures cannot and in no circumstances should be used for demonstration of political force, institutional pressure or political management of a single case. This approach seriously undermines citizens' trust in security institutions and violates the fundamental principles of democratic functioning of the state.

In a democratic state, Kosovo police must act exclusively on the basis of law, professional security assessments and independent chain of operational command, not on the calculations of daily policies. The decision to engage special units should be proportional, rational, and based on real risk assessment of order and public safety.

The IKD considers that public argument for routine control of vehicles is hard to harmonise with public perception created by mobilizing special forces in a situation of political tension and following reports of involvement of senior political officials in the physical incident. It is in such situations that security institutions must take maximum care to maintain institutional impartiality and avoid any action that can be interpreted as pressure on citizens or indirect support of the interests of power.

Maintaining the operational independence of the Kosovo Police is essential to the democratic functioning of the state and ensuring the security of all citizens without political distinction. Any deviation from this standard risks turning security institutions from state institutions into instruments of political power, which is unacceptable to a functional democracy. Such actions risk reducing public confidence in the Kosovo Police, which has invested considerable in this part.

Responsibilities and accountability are the basis of rule of law in a democratic society, so we expect the Kosovo Police Director to offer public clarifications on what assessment or order Kosovo police have been mobilised yesterday in Skenderaj, which has been the role and purpose of sending special forces in the late hours, and what are the measures to be taken so that such cases are not repeated.

All in the end, IKD sees as disturbing institutional information that Mr. Lushtaku refused to be interviewed. In this matter, the law has envisioned adequate co-operation mechanisms, and this issue should not depend on his will, but on the force of the law, which must operate the legal organs.

In spite of that, the Scytheright Community has denied Mr. Lushtaku has received an invitation. The issue, both in procedure and in public communication, needs to be clarified by competent institutions. /Periscope/