In Kosovo, 58 women have been killed in 14 years

In 14 years, 58 women have been killed in Kosovo, most often by their husbands, ex-husbands, or family members, with three murders occurring in the past year alone, reports Koha.

The penalty for aggravated murder in Kosovo ranges from a minimum of 10 years in prison to life imprisonment. Courts have handed down the maximum sentence in three cases, but one was overturned by the Court of Appeals.

Legal and security experts have generally deemed the sentences for those convicted of murdering women to be lenient and delayed. According to lawyer Anton Nrecaj, this represents a failure of judicial institutions.

"We have two Constitutional Court rulings that found institutional failures in protecting victims of domestic violence. In one case, the court failed to provide protection to the victim, and in the other, the police did not offer the necessary protection," Nrecaj stated.

To prevent further murders, security expert Arben Dashevci believes that criminal penalties for perpetrators must be stricter.

"For these individuals who commit what I consider horrifying and truly dreadful crimes, criminal sanctions must be tightened to minimize such cases as much as possible," Dashevci said.

For the murder of a 43-year-old woman in Pec in April 2024, the Basic Court in Pec sentenced her husband to life imprisonment after he confessed to the crime. The Court of Appeals also upheld a life sentence for Dardan Krivaça, who was convicted of murdering 18-year-old Marigona Osmani from Urosevac.

However, the Court of Appeals overturned the life sentence for the man convicted of murdering Donjeta Pajaziti, and he has since been released.

Meanwhile, the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Pristina has filed an indictment against Naim Murseli for the murder of his wife, Liridona Ademaj, and the trial is still ongoing.

The case of the murder of 21-year-old Erone Chokli in April 2024 is also in court. The Basic Court in Urosevac has indicted her ex-husband, but the trial has been postponed indefinitely as the defendant, Valon Aliu, has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.