Feminist activists in Kosovo have vowed to intensify protests over the killing of Arlinda Zekaj, demanding accountability from justice institutions and the dismissal of Justice Minister Donika Gërvalla and Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla.
Liridona Sijarina, an activist with the Feminist Collective, outlined the demands during a protest outside the Kosovo Government building, warning that demonstrations would continue throughout the day and night and could escalate if the authorities failed to respond.
“We will stand up against this state. Our protests will not stop, day or night; they will escalate,” Sijarina said, according to Gazeta Express.
She said activists had already issued an ultimatum to the authorities and were waiting for a response to each of their demands.
“We want prison sentences, we want accountability, and we want our bodies to be treated with dignity,” she said.
Activists demand accountability from justice institutions
Sijarina said four women had been killed in Kosovo in less than two months, arguing that public statements and partisan political disputes were not sufficient responses to violence against women.
She also renewed calls for criminal proceedings against senior prosecutors, social services officials, court presidents and judges whom the activists blame for institutional failures in Arlinda Zekaj’s case.
Her remarks reflected broader demands from the protesters for institutions to be held accountable for their handling of cases involving violence against women.
Calls for ministers’ dismissal
Addressing the government, Sijarina demanded the removal of the justice and interior ministers, arguing that the authorities must take responsibility for the institutional response to Zekaj’s killing.
“We are telling the government that it must dismiss that minister and the interior minister, or we will force you to dismiss them,” she said.
The activist also criticized what she described as inadequate responses from public institutions, insisting that the protesters would continue pressing for concrete action rather than statements they consider empty.
Sijarina announced that the demonstration outside the government building would continue overnight.
The protests come amid renewed public debate in Kosovo over violence against women, institutional accountability and the effectiveness of protections available to victims.
