The coalition of non-governmental organizations, consisting of the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), Lëvizja FOL, and the Initiative for Progress (INPO), launched “Anti-Corruption Week 2025” with a one-day strike as a form of protest against corruption and policies that are paralyzing the functioning of the state.
Arrita Rezniqi, legal researcher at IKD, said that the symbolic one-day strike is a response to the lack of institutional reaction to issues raised by civil society.
She emphasized that the goal of these three NGOs is to make “Anti-Corruption Week 2025” a clear moment demanding functional institutions that work in the interest of citizens and fight corruption.
“Today, we decided to start this week with a symbolic action, which you also saw in front of the building, where the displayed banner announces the one-day strike as a form of protest against corruption and against policies that are paralyzing the functioning of the state. We chose to go on strike because, as civil society organizations, we have continuously responded to legal violations, institutional capture, stalled reforms, and have called for urgent action in the fight against corruption. We have repeatedly warned about phenomena that have now become systemic, but despite our engagement, concrete analyses, and recommendations, there has been no reaction from state institutions, no reflection, and no concrete effort to address these issues and problems,” she said.
Rezniqi stated that the lack of comprehensive justice reform, the failure to start judicial vetting, corporatization in the prosecutorial system, and unconstitutional laws are some of the problems harming citizens’ lives, the rule of law, and economic development.
“The lack of full justice reform, the failure to start judicial vetting, corporatization in the prosecutorial system, unconstitutional laws, the absence of an anti-corruption strategy, suspension of strategic dialogue by the U.S., lack of social dialogue, ongoing attacks on journalists, civil society, and justice institutions, and the blocking of EU growth plan funds are just some of the events and problems harming citizens’ lives, the rule of law, economic development, and trust in democracy and the proper functioning of our country,” she said.
At this press conference, Arrita Rezniqi from the Kosovo Institute for Justice emphasized that at the start of “Anti-Corruption Week 2025,” they want to send the message that Kosovo needs the rule of law, not encouragement of corruption.
“Let us send a strong and clear message that our country needs concrete actions, accountability, and functional institutions, and above all, it needs the rule of law, not encouragement of corruption. This action we have chosen today is a call to all state institutions to respect their constitutional mandate, public responsibility, and fulfill the obligation to ensure integrity, transparency, and democratic functioning,” she said.
Meanwhile, “Anti-Corruption Week 2025” will continue with a series of important activities, from analytical publications to roundtables, debates, podcasts, and other conceptual events.