Prishtina, 29 August, 2018 – Following the resignation of former Special Prosecutor, Elez Blakaj, we as civil society organizations fully support the protest organized by the group of citizens for the dismissal of the Chief State Prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi. Mr. Blakaj signals the weak integrity of the justice system, in particular the state prosecution in the face of political interference, blackmails and threats, which also come from the Chief State Prosecutor.
Interferences of the Chief Prosecutor Lumezi to avoid facing high political figures with the justice process are alarming to justice in Kosovo. On the other hand, compose enough facts that we as civil society and citizens ask for its immediate resignation.
We strongly believe that only an independent justice system, with integrity and immune from political interference, can guarantee the rule of law, which is a prerequisite for the functioning of a democratic state.
The resignation of Chief Prosecutor Lumezi would increase citizens’ confidence in independent justice, so we support the civic protest, and we demand that besides its dismissal, to start the vetting process in the justice system as in all countries of the region.
We call on all citizens to protest today to guarantee an independent justice tomorrow!
Organization of Civil Society:
Democracy Plus – D +
Group for Legal and Political Studies – GLPS
Initiative for Progress – INPO
Columbus Institute
D4D Institute
Kosovo Democratic Institute – KDI
INDEP Institute
KIPRED Institute
Levizja FOL
Cohu Organization!
Advocacy Training and Resource Center-ATRC
Center for Legal Assistance and Regional Development- CLARD