Pour Krenar Gashi du Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), les Kosovars « ne peuvent plus plaider l’ignorance » sur l’étendue des crimes mafieux perpétrés dans le pays.
Thousands recently took part in a peaceful rally against organised crime there following the murder of a prominent police officer – Triumf Riza – in broad daylight in a crowded area of Pristina, remarks Gashi in the 13 September article.
He believes that the murder was « clearly intended to terrify people » and « send a message that crime rules » in Kosovo.
Despite the arrest in this instance of the alleged perpetrator, « there is no feeling that justice is being done » in Kosovo, claims Gashi – with police continually unable to prove the involvement of the businessmen suspected of being behind such acts.
Moreover, hundreds of murder cases remain unsolved, he says, adding that « the police should think hard about why they have not arrested hundreds of other criminals in connection » with such crimes.
Meanwhile, Kosovars are « afraid to pronounce or even write down » the names of the most fearsome gangsters.
Gashi also points to the « inability of the courts to convict the accused », which is « inspiring and encouraging criminals », he says. He describes the protesters « symbolically » turning their backs on the courthouse to express their « loss of trust in the state of law, order and justice in Kosovo ».
This is the « first time in Kosovo’s recent history » that people are complaining about the « weak and impotent » judiciary, he states – adding that « many people would still be alive » if it had put the right people in jail.
Gashi claims that « the feeling of rage among the population is overwhelming », and that this murder « has succeeded in awakening a sense of civic consciousness » more than ever before.
He concludes that Riza’s murder is a « challenge to Kosovo’s institutions » and represents a « chance for Kosovars to decide whether or not they want organised crime to dominate their country ».
Kosovo’s process of restoring justice « needs to start now », and the criminals must be « named and hunted down », he adds.