June 2016. Jedal Svecla, that world director of Inspection in Pristina municipality, resigns after the death of two children in a waterlogged hole in Pristina’s Kolovic neighbourhood.
Ten years later, another tragic case — the murder of Arlinda Zekiaj in Vitomirica of Pec — has put the spotlight on institutional responsibility for the protection of citizens.
This time, Svechla is minister of Internal Affairs.
IPK records police failures in handling Arlinda Zekaj cases
Kosovo Police Inspectorate ( The IPK, in preliminary findings in the case, has recorded failures at several levels of the Kosovo Police, including the lack of timely implementation of defence orders and the approach of risk information to Zekij.
As a result, The IPK has recommended the suspension of 11 police officials, including leading officials at the regional and local level and four police station investigators in Pec.
In addition to police officials, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council has sponsored the chief prosecutor of the Constitutional Prosecutorship in Pec, Joy Vucetaj, and Prosecutor Arlinda Nallban-Gacaferri, following chief state prosecutor Zejrullah Gashi’s recommendation.
We remember that the 2016 case that Svechla had resigned involved the death of two children, aged 11 and 13, in a water – filled pit. At the time, he had linked the decision to resign with the inability of institutions to prevent tragedy and had spoken of his human responsibility.
Our inability to fight to the end this terrible legacy left by past government in Pristina has caused the death of these children, Svechla wrote in his response.
He stressed that although he did not feel legal responsibility, he felt it in a human way.
I don’t feel legal responsibility, but human responsibility does. Even as fellow citizens of these two small children. My life cannot be the same after this case, he had declared.
Ten years later, following the assassination of Arlinda Zekiaj and the suspension of police officials and prosecutors for alleged concessions in handling the case, the question is whether there will be political responsibility.
So far, it remains to be seen whether there will be resignations from Minister Svecla, as he had done 10 years ago.
Source Layer: Dukeagini
