Yesterday’s shooting injury of two citizens from Shtërpca is a criminal act. We wish the injured a speedy and full recovery. Although we cannot yet prejudge the motive behind the shooting, the responsible authorities must swiftly clarify the case. They should analyze and publicly disclose the circumstances, as well as impose the appropriate punishment on the perpetrator. There must be a swift response grounded in justice and proper policies. Stefan Stojanović (11 years old) and Milan Stojanović (21 years old) are human beings. They are our fellow citizens. They are citizens of the Republic. Moreover, this case is especially sensitive and easily subject to exploitation, as one of the victims is a minor, the injured belong to the Serbian non-majority community, and the suspect is a member of the Kosovo Security Force.
Thus, a person in uniform and armed by the Republic. Every member of public services, especially those in security, must understand that they can never see themselves solely as private individuals. At all times, they are in service to the Republic. This is required by their chosen profession. Therefore, their responsibility is 24 hours a day. Accordingly, state institutions must be extremely vigilant and act with increased dynamism. Especially considering that in recent months we have witnessed political circumstances that have worsened Albanian-Serbian relations and deepened nationalist rhetoric. It must always be kept in mind that hate speech from above can uncontrollably translate into incitement of hatred from below. This is evident in the reactions of many citizens.
Regardless of the truth behind the Shtërpca incident, which we do not yet know, many reactions from citizens of the Republic on social media serve as a troubling barometer of how we view the citizen of the Republic, the Republic of Kosovo itself, and social cohesion. No one is allowed to judge an entire community collectively. Every citizen of the Republic is equal and matters to Kosovo. We will never have a free and sovereign Kosovo, a cooperative and equal society, or an opportunity for progress and prosperity unless we build a shared Kosovo—where everyone enjoys rights, opportunities, and freedoms equally, and where everyone carries responsibilities equally toward the state, justice, and the law.
So no: The Republic of Kosovo does not become stronger by attacking, discriminating against, or oppressing the Other and the Different. This weakens the Republic. It worsens life for all of us and each one of us individually.