• COVID-19: 1,067 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• COVID-19 claims lives of 17 citizens in 24 hours, in Kosovo (Euronews.al)
• Kosovo leaders react to murder of 18 year old girl in Ferizaj (media)
• Haxhiu to join today’s protest in Ferizaj (media)
• Health Ministry asks CEC to change locations of 30 polling centers (media)
• Sami Lushtaku will not be able to run in local elections (Indeksonline)
• Nagavci: New school year to start on September 1 (Indeksonline)
• Defence Minister Mehaj in an official visit to Germany (RTK)

COVID-19: 1,067 new cases, 17 deaths (media)

Kosovo recorded 1,067 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths from the virus in the last 24 hours. 278 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 20,467 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

COVID-19 claims lives of 17 citizens in 24 hours, in Kosovo (Euronews.al)

The epidemiologic situation in Kosovo doesn’t appear stable and this is affirmed by the numbers reported by health authorities in the past 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health announced that a total of 17 citizens lost their lives today, and 1067 new tests on the presence of a coronavirus infection came back positive.

In addition, in the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries has also increased, bringing the total number since the onset of the pandemic in Kosovo, to over 107 000.

At the moment, there’s a concerning 20 000 active cases all around Kosovo. Despite these indicators, the Institute of Public Health in Kosovo, reported one day ago that they had been able to deter the rapid spread of the ‘Delta’ variant.

Kosovo leaders react to murder of 18 year old girl in Ferizaj (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, took to Facebook on Monday to react to the murder of an 18-year-old girl in Ferizaj. He said that Kosovo had no women and girls’ lives to lose, therefore, a maximal engagement of institutions against those phenomena is needed.

“Wishes and dreams of an 18-year-old girl stopped yesterday forever. She did not lose her life in any traffic accident or war conflict. Her life vanished violently in the environment where every one of us should feel loved, respected, and above all, protected,” Kurti said.

“We need maximal engagement of the institutions and of each and every one of us in respecting the right to enjoy life, to live life with dignity, and to accomplish the legitimate aspirations,” he added.

Kurti called on the order and investigation authorities to as soon as possible bring Marigona’s suspected murderer to justice.

“Let us stop violence against women, let us educate our sons and brothers that violence is not an acceptable language of communication, that violence is a shame that brings tragedies, and that it is legally punishable,” he stated.

“I call on all mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, to report violence cases to the Police, as well as institutional inaction to reported cases. Do not remain quiet. We cannot be onlookers to our future. It is our moral, constitutional, and institutional obligation to protect life and dignity of every victim of domestic violence,” Kurti said.

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani in her reaction said that only justice and punishment of those who are committing these macabre crimes against women and girls in Kosovo can change the sad situation of inequality we face today in Kosovo.

She called on all responsible institutions to work hard and uninterrupted until the perpetrators of such acts are behind bars.

Haxhiu to join today’s protest in Ferizaj (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu has announced that she will join the protest called for today to seek justice for the 18-year-old who was handed to the Ferizaj hospital without signs of life by two people, who immediately fled. One of them has been arrested, while the other is still on the run.

The Kosovar Center for Gender Studies has called a protest for today at 12:00, to be held near the Police Station, Court and Prosecution in Ferizaj, as a sign of revolt against violence.

Haxhiu said she will join the protest.

"I will join tomorrow's protest “Justice for Murdered Women” which will be held near the police station in Ferizaj. Social and institutional commitment is necessary for changing the patriarchal mentality and for serious actions against violence against women, domestic violence and gender-based violence," Haxhiu added.

Haxhiu on Monday also told Debat Plus that she will seek responsibility from the Kosovo Judicial Council.

"Apart from this case that ended in murder, we see another scandal in the judicial system as we see that the main suspect had an indictment filed since 2013. So, the question is how it is possible for such a person to be free or why until now there has been no judicial review. The Judicial Council should speak to us about this case and I hope that they will not consider this statement of mine as an interference in justice,” Haxhiu said..

She further added that the state will take measures to protect women and girls in Kosovo.

"We will hire pro bono lawyers for victims of domestic violence."

Health Ministry asks CEC to change locations of 30 polling centers (media)

The Ministry of health has requested from the Central Elections Commission (CEC) to change location of 30 polling centers for the October municipal elections, due to the ongoing vaccination against COVID-19 that is happening at there.

“Health Ministry has asked CEC to find other locations for organising the elections, because it is vital that the vaccination and immunisation of the population takes place in the (CEC) listed premises. And as specified in the letter attached, a lot of time has been invested in technical and logistical preparations in functionalising those vaccination centers,” Burim Ahmetaj of the CEC Secretariat, said.

During their meeting on Monday, CEC also discussed political party registration and certification.

Ylli Buleshkaj, Executive Director of the Office for Political Party Registration and Certification, said that ‘In total, now we have 160 candidates for mayors, 13 of them being women. In addition, we have received the first application for the election observation.’

Speaking about certification of candidates for mayors and municipal assemblies, CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi said that their names have been submitted to the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC), to check whether the candidates have had any criminal record.

“The candidates are not eligible if they have been found guilty of any criminal offence with a final Court decision in the last three years. Therefore, we have asked KJC to send us those names on the list of candidates, if any of them has been convicted with a final Court decision,” Elezi said.

Sami Lushtaku will not be able to run in local elections (Indeksonline)

Sami Lushtaku will not be able to run for mayor of Skenderaj in the October 17 elections, as the Supreme Court confirmed on Monday his sentence for escaping from prison. He was fined.

According to Indeksonline sources, even if the Central Election Commission (CEC) certifies Lushtaku, the Constitutional Court will not allow him, based on an existing article, which states that whoever has been convicted in the last three years with a final decision, has a legal obstacle to run be it at the central or municipal level elections.

Nagavci: New school year to start on September 1 (Indeksonline)

The Minister of Education, Arberie Nagavci informed through a post on social media that the new school year begins on September 1.

Nagavci said that the aim is for the schools to be open and for teaching to take place on a regular basis and physical participation in school institutions.

She has demanded that teachers and administrative staff be vaccinated so that last year's situation is not repeated.

Defence Minister Mehaj in an official visit to Germany (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense Armend Mehaj is visiting the Federal Republic of Germany after an official invitation by the senior authorities of German Federal Ministry of Defense.

During this visit, Minister Mehaj will hold meetings with senior German authorities from the Ministry of Defense, German parliamentarians of the security and defense committees, German institutional authorities with influence in NATO structures, etc.

RTK reports that Mehaj will also meet representatives Kosovo Diaspora in Germany.