The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) launched today an awareness campaign against celebratory gunfire, aiming to prevent the misuse of firearms and strengthen cooperation between citizens and security institutions.
Deputy Minister at the MIA, Blerim Gashani, emphasized that preventing the use of illegal weapons requires joint institutional and citizen engagement.
He added that thanks to the efforts of the Kosovo Police and support from international partners, significant progress has been made in confiscating illegal weapons, thereby contributing to increased public safety in the country.
“In terms of prevention, besides the main role of the MIA and its respective agencies, such as the Kosovo Police, strong engagement from other institutional stakeholders, civil society, media, and most importantly citizens themselves is essential. Only through close cooperation and coordinated approaches can we avoid serious consequences caused by possession of illegal weapons, criminal acts, misuse of weapons, and celebratory shootings which we discuss often and need to address in the coming months. This cooperation is the foundation for increasing the safety and well-being of our country,” he said.
He stated that they aim to prevent the misuse of firearms.
“Our goal is to continuously raise the level of security in the country, ensuring not only public order and peace but also improving the quality of life for all citizens. Thanks to the tireless and professional efforts of the Kosovo Police and ongoing support from international partners, we have achieved significant progress in confiscating illegal weapons and ammunition, which has directly impacted the increase of public safety. The improvement in citizens’ perception of security is clear proof of this success and a reflection of close cooperation with the community, which remains our most valuable partner in building a safe and sustainable environment… This campaign aims to prevent misuse of firearms and strengthen cooperation between citizens and enforcement agencies,” said Gashani.
The campaign’s launch was also attended by the Swedish Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, representatives of the Kosovo Police, international institutions, and civil society.
