Thousands of people gathered in Pristina, Kosovo, demanding stronger protection for women following a domestic violence killing that has raised serious questions about the country’s institutions.
The demonstration followed the death of 49-year-old Arlinda Zekaj, who was killed near Peja. Activists say she was the eighth woman killed in a domestic violence case in Kosovo this year.
Protesters accused authorities of failing to protect women who report threats and seek help.
Kosovo Protesters Demand Accountability
Demonstrators marched through Pristina carrying photographs and signs calling for justice and institutional accountability.
Some protesters splashed red paint on government buildings to symbolize the lives lost to violence.
Zekaj’s death has caused particular outrage because she had reportedly sought protection before the attack.
According to reporting by the Associated Press, she had repeatedly reported abuse by her husband.
Three days before her death, she contacted the chief prosecutor’s office and warned that institutions were passing responsibility between themselves.
Her husband was subsequently detained. However, Zekaj returned home without a police escort.
A relative said her brother-in-law later killed her with an ax.
The circumstances have intensified public criticism of how police, prosecutors and other institutions respond to reports of domestic violence.
Protesters argue that women should receive effective protection when they report threats, rather than having to navigate several institutions without clear assistance.
Government Faces Questions Over Women’s Safety
Kosovo’s parliament has launched an urgent investigation into the case.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti described the institutional response as a systemic failure, according to the Associated Press.
Kosovo already has legislation addressing domestic violence and imposing penalties on offenders.
However, women’s rights advocates say that implementing those laws remains a major challenge.
They have called for better coordination between police officers, social workers, prosecutors and courts.
Police registered 2,815 domestic violence reports in Kosovo in 2025, highlighting the scale of the problem in a country of approximately two million people.
The latest demonstration reflects growing frustration among citizens who believe institutions have failed to respond adequately to repeated warnings.
For Kosovo’s communities abroad, including those living in the United States and Canada, the protests highlight an important social issue affecting families in their country of origin.
The parliamentary investigation will now face scrutiny over whether it identifies institutional failures and leads to meaningful changes.
Protesters say their central demand is clear: women who report violence must receive protection before another tragedy occurs.
