A neighbor of the family of the 5-year-old from the municipality of Lipjan, who was abused by his parents, says that A.K. and V.P. had always exercised physical violence against their seven children.
She says that this family is known to law enforcement authorities due to numerous problems.
As for the 5-year-old, who is currently being treated at the Pediatric Clinic due to abuse by his parents, this resident of the village of Janjevë in Lipjan says she had never seen him walking, as they always carried him in their arms.
“They have had problems ever since we’ve been here for 10 years… Even this child, the way they treated him, we saw him always being carried, only in their arms. They would go out, go to the shop… we never saw him walking. They said they didn’t take him outside, but I have seen them take him out,” she said.
The neighbor recounts that the children’s screams were always heard, as the parents used to beat them.
However, she says they did not dare to inform the authorities because they felt threatened.
“He beat them all, and they would scream even until midnight. I heard them all, and I always felt sorry for them because they are not to blame. These two are not well, neither of them… we did not dare because they are dangerous,” she said.
The resident of Janjevë says she often saw the children of this family playing in the street.
According to her, social workers from the Center for Social Work in Lipjan frequently visited this family.
She even adds that psychiatrists would visit the children’s mother every two weeks, providing her with injections and necessary medication.
“He beat them all, and they would scream even until midnight. I heard them all, and I always felt sorry for them because they are not to blame. These two are not well, neither of them… we did not dare because they are dangerous,” she said.
The resident of Janjevë says she often saw the children of this family playing in the street.
According to her, social workers from the Center for Social Work in Lipjan frequently visited this family.
She even adds that psychiatrists would visit the children’s mother every two weeks, providing her with injections and necessary medication.
“They came very often, even from psychiatry. They came frequently—sometimes every two weeks—they gave her injections and the medication she needed… They came often, I recognize them because I am also a social case. I have seen them several times,” she said.
Regarding the latest incident, she says she only realized what had happened after police units arrived at the family’s home.
“We only realized when the police came. We didn’t know anything else—when would we know, when they fight every day, go to the police, report each other… We knew they had problems, but only recently when we saw the police,” she said.
The 5-year-old from Lipjan, due to abuse by his parents, is being treated in Pediatric Intensive Care, and today he underwent a surgical intervention on the soles of his feet. The University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK) said his health condition is stable.
Meanwhile, the Basic Court of Prishtina, upon the request of the Prosecution, has ordered a 30-day detention measure for the two parents of the 5-year-old, who are suspected of the criminal offenses of “Violation of family obligations” and “Serious bodily injury.”
The Center for Social Work in Lipjan announced that the other six children of this family are now under state care.
