The judicial system in Kosovo is regulated by the highest legal act- the Constitution.
In the chapter dedicated to the Judicial and Prosecutorial System the judicial power is
delegated to the courts, which are impartial, far, apolitical and independent.
For civil matters the citizens should be referred to the Municipal Court, whereas for
criminal offences the citizens should be referred to District Court.
The citizens are guaranteed the right to appeal against any judicial decisions unless
otherwise provided for by law. For the cases directly referred to the Supreme Court, there
are not rights to appeal.
The Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo (OIK) is an independent
organisation which has a mandate to address alleged human rights violations or abuses of
authority by public institutions in Kosovo. The Institution conduct investigations, issue reports and
provide legal services and public advocacy.
The Institution is mandated to monitor the policies and laws adopted by local authorities
to ensure that they respect human rights standards and the requirements of good governance.
While the Ombudsperson Institution monitors the judiciary’s compliance with human rights
standards, it is not a substitute for courts and cannot directly investigate crimes, change
court decisions or issue binding decisions of its own.
The Ombudsperson Institution does not deal with disputes between private individuals and
it has no jurisdiction over either the UN-led international administration in Kosovo (UNMIK)
or NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), the military force responsible for security in the territory
of Kosovo.
Who can lodge a complaint?
The Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo (OIK) accepts and investigates complaints from
anyone in Kosovo who believes that his or her human rights have been violated by a public
authority in Kosovo.
All services are provided free of charge.