On February 19th, the Court of Appeals upheld the first-instance verdict of the Basic Court in Ferizaj, concerning the life imprisonment decision for Dardan Krivaqa, the murderer of M.O, who lost her life due to extremely severe injuries. She was only 18 years old when the murder occurred. The court based this sentence on Article 173 of the Penal Code of the Republic of Kosovo, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1.4, which states that a person who “deprives another person of life in a cruel or insidious manner” shall be punished with 10 years to life imprisonment. 

Similarly, months earlier, specifically on December 27, 2024, Edmond Lajçi was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife Gj.U. He was sentenced under Article 173 of the Penal Code, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1.3, which states that a person who “deprives a family member of life” shall be punished with 10 years to life imprisonment. 

Although these two cases demonstrate an improved approach to handling murders, the prosecution and the court still failed to emphasize the gender-based motive behind these killings, as stipulated by the Penal Code in Article 173, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1.10, where murder is considered aggravated when the motive is “nationality, language, religious belief or lack of religious belief, skin color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or due to proximity to persons with one of these protected characteristics.” 

The Kosovo Women’s Network, through its “A Life Free from Gender-Based Violence” Program, has advocated for a legal framework that addresses gender-based violence and violence against women. 

We remain committed to deepening cooperation with justice institutions to raise awareness that murder resulting from gender-based violence, or as it is internationally known, femicide, the killing of women simply because they are women, is reflected in court decisions and prosecutorial indictments. 

Throughout 2025, KWN will organize training for officials responsible for combating gender-based violence, including judges and prosecutors, to raise awareness about gender-based violence and a victim-centered approach, as required by our legislation, derived from the Istanbul Convention. 

Additionally, KWN will continue to provide legal counseling to all victims of domestic violence, violence against women, and gender-based violence. For more information on legal counseling, please contact us at: +39348105800.