The NGO Aktiv, in collaboration with the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC), organized a conference in Pristina on Friday, October 25, focused on the fight against corruption titled “Unmasking Corruption: Transparency, Accountability, and Justice.”
Conference participants, including representatives of institutions, media, and civil society, discussed challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption. They emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among all societal actors, noting that only collective effort, transparency, and active citizen engagement can help reduce corruption and improve the rule of law. Participants highlighted that, despite existing laws, the willingness to enforce them consistently is essential for real progress.
At the opening of the conference, the Executive Director of NGO Aktiv, Miodrag Milićević, underscored the importance of continuous societal engagement in fighting corruption and involving citizens in reporting cases. Milićević stated that corruption is not only a global issue but also deeply local, and that cooperation between civil society, institutions, and media is crucial.
“We strive to keep this issue relevant to encourage citizens to report cases or suspicions of corruption. The media play a key role in informing the public about important social issues, including the fight against corruption. Through joint efforts, we can highlight negative phenomena in society,” said Milićević.
The Executive Director of the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture, Dušan Radaković, highlighted the importance of balancing criticism with proposed solutions. “We don’t want to be an organization that only criticizes; we also offer concrete solutions. We are grateful to institutions for their cooperation and believe we are doing useful work for the benefit of society as a whole,” said Radaković.
Throughout the conference’s three panels, the roles of media, civil society, and institutions in combating corruption were analyzed. In the first panel, the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Yll Buleshkaj, discussed the challenges facing this institution, including a lack of financial resources and skilled personnel.
“Our institution is the first line of defense against corruption. However, funding limitations and a shortage of experienced lawyers hinder our activities. Although the Government of Kosovo has increased our budget, finding staff with the necessary experience and integrity remains a challenge,” Buleshkaj noted.
The Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency discussed cooperation with NGO Aktiv through several initiatives, including direct engagement with citizens and promoting digital tools for reporting corruption, accessible to all communities.
“Positive results of our cooperation with NGO Aktiv are evident through an increased number of corruption reports, with monetary fines even imposed. The number of reports has doubled, indicating growing citizen trust. We hope, with the support of the civil sector and media, to further improve whistleblower protections—those heroes who prioritize the community’s well-being over personal gain,” stated Buleshkaj.
The Public Defender, Naim Qelaj, emphasized that this institution faces numerous challenges in addressing corruption at all levels. “Kosovo’s law is aligned with EU regulations. It states that the Ombudsperson has the right to make recommendations in cases of human rights violations, and corruption certainly violates human rights,” Qelaj stated.
The Kosovo Commissioner for Information and Privacy, Krenare Sogojeva Dermaku, noted that the Information and Privacy Agency, which she leads, is one of the main pillars of transparency and the fight against corruption.
“Transparency is one of the fundamental principles for combating corruption. Every citizen, regardless of nationality, has the right to request access to public documents,” said Sogojeva Dermaku.
The second panel addressed the role of the media in uncovering corrupt activities. Executive Director of the Association of Broadcast Media in Kosovo, Ardita Zejnullahu, emphasized the importance of journalism in the fight against corruption. “When the media brings cases of corruption to light, they encourage society to take action and put pressure on institutions to respond,” said Zejnullahu.
Investigative journalist Serbeze Haxhiaj highlighted the increasingly sophisticated forms of corruption and the challenges journalists face in reporting on them. “Whistleblowers are not adequately protected, and the law does not function well in their case. As a result, few journalists dare to investigate corruption,” said Haxhiaj.
According to Visar Prebreza, from BIRN, journalists’ investigative stories have led to significant arrests, but court processes often end with acquittals. “Journalists are doing their job, but institutions are not following through or providing appropriate solutions,” concluded Prebreza.
The Executive Director of the Media Center in Čaglavica, Budimir Ničić, mentioned that journalists are discouraged by the fact that, after reporting on corruption, the responsible parties do not face justice.
“Media play a crucial role in exposing corruption. There are journalists who have the will, desire, and knowledge to tackle these topics, but they lack adequate support,” he said.
The third panel focused on the role of civil society in combating corruption. Panelists emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between civil society organizations and institutions, as well as the role of citizens in reporting cases of corruption.
Sanja Vuković from the Civic Activism Network stated that corruption remains a widespread practice in Kosovo and that citizens increasingly seek help from the civil sector to point out irregularities.
The Director of the Kosovo Institute of Justice, Ehat Miftaraj, stated that Kosovo lacks not laws but the political will to implement them. “The prosecutorial system abuses the independence granted by the constitution, while politics creates an environment where corruption is tolerated,” said Miftaraj.
A prosecutor in the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor, Shqipdon Fazliu, stated that prosecutor training is conducted daily. He noted that there are many challenges, that the accountability mechanism does not function as it should, but there have been some advancements.
The conference served as a platform for exchanging views and experiences in combating corruption in Kosovo, and participants agreed that more support is needed for institutions and media. It was also stated that citizens and civil society are key partners in this fight, and that events like this contribute to the public debate on transparency and the rule of law in Kosovo.
This event was organized with the support of the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and is part of the project “Enhancing Transparency and Rule of Law in Majority-Serb Communities.”
