“Murder of Oliver Ivanovic is a great challenge for Kosovo society and a strong slap to the Kosovo Government, and to all of us who live in Kosovo,” Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Milan Radojevic said in a debate on the rule of law held in Caglavica today, KIM Radio reports.

Radojevic assessed the murder as a great challenge for Kosovo but also for the international community.

Center for Security Studies Director, Florian Qehaja also thinks the Kosovo Government bears part of the responsibility.

“I think it is a great failure of the Kosovo Government because Kosovo Police did not manage to protect Oliver Ivanovic, but also other officials who are receiving direct threats. Oliver Ivanovic was threatened, and there are those who are under direct or indirect threats (…). Kosovo police should offer security, particularly in areas where there are such issues. We can speculate what was the aim of the murder. Was intention to create insecurity, to prevent future agreements, to prevent reaching of a final agreement between Serbia and Kosovo or organized crime,” Qehaja said, KIM Radio reported.

NGO Human Centre in Mitrovica Director, Veroljub Petronic also thinks that Pristina is partly responsible for the murder of Oliver Ivanovic.

“They could provide security to him. I am surprised why statements from Oliver’s associates were taken only three, four days ago. The police said they would provide information on Monday or Tuesday how far the investigation has reached, however, there is silence,” Petronic said, KIM Radio reported.

OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Chief of Section for monitoring courts and legislative procedures, Benjamin Reed said that the murder of Oliver Ivanovic represents “a challenge for the rule of law in Kosovo.”

“It happened at times when the judiciary and prosecutors are trying to understand how to take over two structures and turn them into one functional structure,” Reed said, KIM Radio reported.

Radojevic also mentioned graffiti written on the wall of a school building in Ugljare village, which, according to him, can be called “hate crime,” KIM Radio said.

Debate on the rule of law was organized by the Media Center and main topics included significance of the rule of law, its implementation, respect and violations, as well as security, judiciary and documentation.