The Prosecution Council of Kosovo has decided to suspend from office the chief prosecutor of Peja, Lumturije Vuçetaj, and the prosecutor Arlinda Nallbani-Gacaferi. An investigative procedure has also been opened against both of them.
The decision was taken at today’s meeting of the Prosecution Council of Kosovo, while Valbona Haxhosaj has been appointed as acting chief prosecutor of Peja.
This development comes after the murder of Arlinda Zekaj, who was killed on October 25 by her former brother-in-law.
The case has also raised questions about the treatment of the victim’s warnings, since Arlinda Zekaj, just three days before she was killed, had sent a letter to the chief prosecutor of Peja, Lumturija Vuçetaj, where she had informed her that her life was in danger.
Kosovo media have released audio recordings and transcripts of Arlinda Zekaj’s shocking conversations with her ex-husband, Jeton Sylaj, and with Kosovo Police officials. These communications highlight the life threats and institutional neglect just days before she was killed on October 25, 2026.
Threats from the ex-husband with the custody of their son can be heard in the disclosed communications. The ex-husband can be heard telling her: “I will kill you, you will not see the boy as long as I am alive” as well as “From this minute you lose the right to talk to the boy”.
During the conversation, Arlinda argues that the son needs to stay with his mother, while he replies: “It is not in the Albanian tradition that the mother took the son, unless the father does not want it… You are the only mother without children”.
A video was also published showing the burning of Arlinda’s clothes by her ex-husband’s family members.
A large part of the public revolt came from the revelation of the telephone communication between Arlinda and the police lieutenant, to whom she was asking to implement the protection order and remove unknown persons from her house.
The policeman is heard telling her: “I’m not obliged to deal with you all the time” and instructs her to file a civil suit in court to evict them from the house. Dejected by this answer, she replies: “Someone went to your house… he leaves it there? This is a total failure.” When he asks her if she has complained to the Inspectorate, she answers: “Oh, a million times.”
In the file provided by the media, the last chilling statement that Arlinda gave to the police before returning to the house where she was killed was revealed. She had said to the police officials “Do you have to kill me Live for the police to arrest the schizophrenic?”.
Also, in addition to the talks, the media also published an urgent letter that she had sent to the chief prosecutor in Peja three days before the murder, where she wrote: “I hope that you and the responsible institutions will not be forced to answer only after my life has been taken… Now I understand why there are so many murders!”.
As a result of the publication of these conversations and the audio that proves the negligence of the institutions, the suspension of the Chief Prosecutor of Peja and the prosecutor of the case has been recommended and decided today.
