Dealing with cases of domestic violence and corruption was the focal point of discussion during a meeting between the Acting Chief State Prosecutor, Mr. Besim Kelmendi, and the Chief Prosecutors of all prosecution offices in the country
Prishtina, April 22, 2024 - Mr. Besim Kelmendi, the Acting Chief State Prosecutor, convened a collegium with the chief prosecutors and representatives of the country’s prosecutions, including prosecutors from the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor and a representative from the Embassy of the United States of America in Kosovo.
The primary focus of the meeting was the handling of cases, related to domestic violence. The challenges faced by prosecutors in dealing with criminal offenses of domestic violence and corruption were highlighted.
In the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor and all Basic Prosecution Offices, coordinators are appointed from ranks of the prosecutors to exclusively handle domestic violence cases. These coordinators continue to address all related cases with dedication and urgency. Following joint discussions, it was concluded that state prosecutors should, in cases where there is a legal basis, request detention for instances of domestic violence and unauthorized possession of weapons. They should also strictly implement the guideline for penal policy. To fulfill the mandate of the State Prosecutor for investigating these criminal offenses, requests have been made to other institutions for:
Increasing the budget to add more victims’ advocates
Increasing the budget to expand shelters for victims
Increasing the capacities of the Agency for Forensics of Kosovo
Increasing the capacities of the Institute for Psychiatric Forensics
The meeting also addressed corruption cases, with Mr. Besim Kelmendi, Acting Chief State Prosecutor, calling for increased efficiency in handling such cases.
Additionally, discussions included the operationalization of the Office for Assets Recovery, the development of standard procedures of operation, and other issues falling under the competence of this office.
