Kosovo Police Chief Resigns Amid Mass Protests Over Failures in Domestic Murder Case
The murder of 49-year-old Arlinda Zeqaj in Kosovo, despite desperate warnings to authorities, has sparked mass protests and the resignation of the national police chief. Nineteen officers and prosecutors have been suspended amid systemic failures.
The brutal murder of 49-year-old Arlinda Zeqaj in Kosovo has sparked widespread outrage and mass protests after it was revealed she sent a desperate letter to prosecutors warning that her life was in danger just three days before she was killed with an axe at her home in Peja. Zeqaj had repeatedly reported domestic violence and threats from her ex-husband, Jeton Silaj, but despite a protection order issued in September, police and judicial authorities failed to act effectively. Hours before her murder on October 25, she filed another complaint, leading to the temporary detention of her ex-husband, yet she was sent home without police escort. Shortly afterward, the suspect—identified as the victim's former brother-in-law, Albert Silaj—allegedly broke in and murdered her.
The scandal has exposed severe systemic failures within Kosovo's law enforcement agencies. Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla announced the suspension of 19 police officers, including senior commanders in the Peja region, alongside the local chief prosecutor and the handling prosecutor. Investigations revealed that protection orders were poorly enforced and crucial threat assessments were ignored. Amid mounting public pressure and massive demonstrations where protesters hurled red paint at government buildings and replayed Zeqaj's desperate calls for help, National Police Chief Gazmend Hoxha announced his resignation, stating that public trust outweighs any position.
While Prime Minister Albin Kurti appointed Fehmi Hoti as acting police chief, protesters continue to demand the resignation of the interior and justice ministers, holding the government accountable for the systemic abandonment of women facing domestic violence. Zeqaj is the eighth woman killed in Kosovo this year in connection with domestic abuse, according to women's rights organizations. Parliament has launched a formal inquiry into the handling of the case as the nation grapples with deep questions over institutional accountability and the protection of vulnerable citizens.
