The Basic Prosecution of Prishtina  announced, on Tuesday, that it had initiated an investigation against Xhevat Krasniqi, mathematics professor at the University of Prishtina, after accepting a criminal complaint on sexual harassment allegations.

“The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Prishtina received a criminal complaint about the case in question. The State Prosecutor has taken a decision to start investigations against Xh. K.,” the prosecution told BIRN.  

A petition, signed by 27 students, of the Faculty of Medicine, in late February 2024, accused Krasniqi of sexual harassment, which led to his suspension following several protests by students and activists.

After the petition in February, several students testified about their experiences or what they had witnessed for Kallxo Përnime TV programme, broadcasted on April 7.

Following the broadcast, additional allegations of sexual harassment against Krasniqi surfaced. BIRN received testimonies alleging that Krasniqi had sexually harassed minor students at Sami Frashëri High School in Prishtina in 2000 and a female student who eventually dropped out from the Faculty of Education in Gjakova during the 2012/13 academic year. Krasniqi has declined to comment on these allegations when approached by BIRN.