A gynaecologist was arrested on Wednesday in eastern Kosovo’s city, Gjilan on suspicion of providing an illegal termination of a pregnancy. He is being detained for 48 hours based on the prosecution’s decision.
The arrest comes after a 13- year old girl had an abortion after it was suspected that she had been raped by two men.
The news was confirmed for Prishtina- based media, KALLXO by the prosecutor of the case, Arben Ismajli. The doctor is the fourth suspect to be arrested concerning the case.
Two other men, a 21 and 38 year- old were arrested previously on suspicion of raping the minor. They are in custody, while another gynaecologist from Gjilan was interviewed under suspicion of not reporting the case when the minor had a check-up in their private clinic. They were later released.
The first suspect was arrested for taking the minor in several motels and raping her when she got pregnant. Afterwards, according to the Prosecution, the suspect took her in a private clinic for an abortion.
The second suspect was arrested on suspicion that he had committed the criminal offence of raping the 13-year-old.
Abortion in Kosovo is legal as long as the woman is over 18 and under 10 weeks pregnant. If the woman is under 18 years old, the abortion must be carried out in a licensed and approved facility and with the permission of the parents. In both cases, the woman or girl must also give her consent. In this case, the child was under 18, did not have parental consent, and the abortion appears to have been coerced.
