“Don’t think we’re trying to justify the behavior of our officers; we want to regulate this better. We aim to minimize the misuse of uniforms and symbols, as it causes significant damage to the Kosovo Police,” said Hoxha.
Hoxha visited North Mitrovica yesterday, attending a two-hour Kosovo Police conference held in the assembly hall. The event presented the institution’s 2024 operational report for northern Kosovo.
Addressing NGO Report on Ethnicization of the Kosovo Police
During the visit, Hoxha was asked about another report—a recent study conducted by five NGOs from northern Kosovo, titled “The Ethnicization of the Kosovo Police: Undermining Ahtisaari’s Foundations of a Civic and Multiethnic Institution.”
The report includes numerous social media photos showing officers displaying Albanian national symbols, emblems of the Albanian flag and “Greater Albania,” images of Adem Jashari, UÇK (Kosovo Liberation Army) insignia, and the double eagle hand gesture symbolizing Albania.
Hoxha confirmed that the police are aware of the NGO report and stated they have taken it “seriously.” He also acknowledged prior statements by EULEX and OSCE regarding collaboration with the police to create a regulatory framework for officers’ social media usage.
“We’ve taken this report seriously and formed a task force within the police to investigate it. Any officer found displaying non-Kosovo Police symbols or violating principles and procedures will be subjected to internal investigations or referred to the Kosovo Police Inspectorate,” said Hoxha.
Regulating Police Behavior and Social Media Use
Hoxha admitted that some officers violated uniform protocols but offered limited details, saying only, “We are addressing this.”
When asked by a KoSSev journalist about initiating procedures against officers whose photos appeared in the NGO report and why a new regulatory framework is being created when existing regulations already cover these issues, Hoxha clarified:
“I didn’t say we won’t deal with officers who have already violated procedures. I said we need a broader provision. This will regulate social media comments, posts, and media appearances by officers… to clarify what can and cannot be shared on social media in the future,” he explained.
Protecting the Reputation of the Police
Hoxha emphasized that such behavior damages the reputation of the Kosovo Police.
“Don’t think we’re trying to justify the behavior of our officers; we want to regulate this better. Minimizing the misuse of uniforms and symbols is critical because it causes the greatest harm to the Kosovo Police,” he reiterated.
Speaking about collaboration with EULEX, Hoxha highlighted the importance of adopting the mission’s best practices as part of the solution.
Read more:
Kosovo Police Director Responds to Criticism Over Security Lapses and Ethnic Issues
From NGO Report on Kosovo Police Ethnicization on Social Media to New Police Guidelines?
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