UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 16, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo remains reliable ally in defending democratic values (media)
Kosovo’s Supreme Court strongly responds to government attacks (media)
LDK submits Supreme Court decision to Special Prosecution (media)
KLI reacts to caretaker government's attacks on judiciary (media)
Special Chambers reject defense motion of former KLA leaders (media)
Krasniqi on Special Court decision: Justice may be delayed, but truth does not change (media)
Kosovo Writers’ League reacts to Hague trial of former KLA leaders (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic informs Dutch Ambassador of situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
Drecun: Kurti is trying to prevent the Serbian List from protecting the interests of Serbs in any way (RTS)
Raska-Prizren Diocese on meeting with UK Special Envoy: It is necessary to regulate legal position of SOC (KoSSev, media, social media)
Peci: Disrespecting Supreme Court decision represents “dictatorship of authorities” (Kosovo Online, media)
Lucic: EU should protect Telekom Srbija, Pristina does not respect its own laws when it comes to our company (Kosovo Online, Prva TV)
Raids at three locations in Kosovo due to suspicion of abuse of official position (KoSSev)

International:

European Commission takes no position on Kosovo-Telekom Serbia dispute (Euronews)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Kosovo remains reliable ally in defending democratic values (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani shared moments from her visit to Latvia. While in Riga, she visited NATO’s Strategic Communications of Excellence (STRATCOM), a key institution in the fight against hybrid threats and in the protection of the information industry. “We discussed deepening cooperation in capacity building for cybersecurity and strategic communications, as part of Kosovo’s efforts toward NATO membership,” Osmani stated.

She also emphasized that she had a discussion at the House of Europe together with women leaders and activists in Latvia, “sharing Kosovo’s journey as a country that endured war but today moves forward with women at the center of every democratic and security process.”

“We concluded the visit at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, as a moment of deep reflection on the shared history of resistance against occupation and injustice. Both Kosovo and Latvia survived through resilience and national pride. Our collective memory is our strength never to forget the glorious past and to build a just and secure future,” she concluded.

Kosovo’s Supreme Court strongly responds to government attacks (media)

The Supreme Court of Kosovo strongly responded to criticism from the caretaker government regarding its decision to annul an administrative instruction on electronic fiscal devices. The Court condemned the government's reaction as unacceptable interference in the judiciary's independence and emphasized that its ruling was fully based on the Constitution and applicable laws. It warned that political statements questioning the Court’s authority undermine public trust in justice and stressed that all institutions must respect and implement judicial decisions. The Court reaffirmed its commitment to act independently and uphold the rule of law.

“In this specific case, the Court ensured that the sub-legal act complied with legal norms governing the timing and procedures of its adoption. Any attempt to undermine the Court's authority or the legitimacy of its decisions through political statements threatens judicial independence and erodes public trust in the justice system,” the statement notes among other things.

LDK submits Supreme Court decision to Special Prosecution (media)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has reacted strongly to the Supreme Court’s recent decision, arguing that all actions taken by the acting government since March 27 — when its members were certified as MPs — are unconstitutional and illegal.

LDK MP Besian Mustafa stated that the ruling confirms their claims that Prime Minister Kurti and his ministers unlawfully held executive positions while also being MPs. LDK has submitted 17 criminal complaints and added the Court’s ruling as evidence.

MP Alban Zogaj called for the Special Prosecutor to take action, insisting that any government decision made after March 27 is not valid. Both MPs argue that the dual roles violate constitutional rules and are demanding legal accountability.

KLI reacts to caretaker government's attacks on judiciary (media)

The Kosovo Law Institute considers the caretaker government's reaction to Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling on the fiscal coffers issue completely unacceptable. According to the KLI, the public opposition of a ruling of the highest instance of regular courts by the executive government not only constitutes an interference in the independence of the judiciary, "but is a flagrant violation of the principle of separation of powers, which is the foundation of the constitutional order in a democratic state, also violating the integrity of the judiciary and inciting institutional distrust".

This institute emphasizes in its reaction that it considers the approach of the caretaker Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, "by naming Supreme Court judges by name and surname" extremely dangerous. This approach, in addition to violating the integrity of the judicial system, also poses a risk to the individual security of the judges mentioned". The reactions of the caretaker government and its other members constitute unnecessary pressure on the judiciary, which undermines institutional independence and efforts to build impartial justice. KLI recalls that trust in the judicial system is built by respecting its decisions, not by public delegitimization by political officials," it is said among others.

Special Chambers reject defense motion of former KLA leaders (media)

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers (Special Court) has rejected the defense motion to dismiss parts of the indictment against former KLA leaders, leaving all charges in place.

Defense lawyers argued that no armed conflict existed in Kosovo outside the dates specified in the indictment (before late May 1998 and after June 1999). The Court dismissed the request, stating that such a move would fragment the case and that it lacks the authority to strike parts of the indictment without addressing the substance of the armed conflict argument.

The trial will continue with the hearing of victims' counsel witnesses.

Krasniqi on Special Court decision: Justice may be delayed, but truth does not change (media)

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi reacted to the Specialist Chamber’s decision to reject the joint defense motion in the case Thaci et al. In a Fecobook post, Krasniqi stated that the decision represents a missed opportunity to strengthen trust in international justice and the values it should uphold: objectivity, impartiality, and truth. “Liberators, their families, and the people of Kosovo have not asked for favors, only for justice. Justice that is free from prejudice. That does not confuse freedom with guilt. Because freedom is not guilt. It never was. It never will be.”

He added that history cannot and should not be written in silent courtrooms but has already been written through the people’s sacrifices for freedom.

Krasniqi concluded by affirming that while justice may be delayed, the truth remains unchanged:

“They are innocent. They are liberators. We eagerly await the final decision that will restore their freedom. The pride and dignity of those who fought for this country are unbreakable, forever! The sun will rise again for the liberators, for Kosovo, and for the truth.”

Kosovo Writers’ League reacts to Hague trial of former KLA leaders (RTK)

The Kosovo Writers’ League has issued a statement in response to the ongoing trial of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders at the Hague-based Special Court.

In its reaction, the League criticized the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, claiming it was established under pressure and threats, and has created ways to accuse whomever it wants, often relying on basic information from Serbia, described as a "centuries-old occupier" that continues to pose a threat. The statement further criticizes the international community, saying the democratic world has failed to verify the real truth “and to bring to justice those responsible for genocide and unjust wars,” referring to Serbia’s role in multiple wars in the Balkans.

According to the League, the court ignores the fact that the KLA emerged from the extraordinary sacrifice of the people of Kosovo, who resisted Serbian military and paramilitary forces in a fight for liberation.

The statement expresses deep concern over what it sees as selective justice, and reiterates support for the former KLA leaders currently on trial.

Serbian Language Media

Petkovic informs Dutch Ambassador of situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic met today Dutch Ambassador to Serbia, Martijn Elgersma and informed him of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue lead in Brussels, but also of all escalatory actions Pristina made against Serbian people in Kosovo, which undermine peace and erode normalization of relations, Tanjug news agency reported citing statement from Office for KiM.

Petkovic also said Belgrade expects international community to exert pressure on Pristina so the latter will cease its unlawful and unilateral acts to the detriment of the Serbian people, and engage in establishing Community of Serbian Majority Municipalities, an obligation that Pristina avoids for the full 12 years, the statement added.

Petkovic noted Pristina has no wish to make any compromise or sustainable agreement as part of the dialogue, instead, as he said, with daily escalatory actions, including arbitrary arrests, political persecution of Serbian people and Serbian List officials, institutional violence and physical terror wishes to expel Serbian people from Kosovo, thus “rounding up its policy of ethnic cleansing”.

Drecun: Kurti is trying to prevent the Serbian List from protecting the interests of Serbs in any way (RTS)

Reducing the number of councilors in municipalities in northern Kosovo should not affect the political situation in Serb-majority municipalities, Chair of the Serbian Parliament's Defense and Internal Affairs Committee, Milovan Drecun told RTS this morning. He said that if the Serbian List participated in the elections, it is important to win a two-thirds majority to be able to ''oppose the unilateral actions of Pristina''.

Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo will have in future fewer councilors in local parliaments. Instead of 19, there will be 15, the Pristina Central Election Commission decided as part of preparations for local elections in the province in October.

The reduction should not affect the political situation in Serb-majority municipalities, he said, adding that one never knows what Albin Kurti's next steps will be because he will do everything to prevent the Serbian List from winning the elections if it participates.

Drecun stated that Kurti is working very insidiously and is trying to disrespect the political will of Serbs who are personally in the Serbian List, to prevent the Serbian List from protecting the interests of the Serbian people in any way.

The central authorities determine the budgets of municipalities in the north without public debate, no interests, no proposals from citizens, he said, adding that in municipalities where Albanians have a majority was not the case.

“They determined the budget for the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica as if a total of 10,000 people lived there, and only according to the voter list there are 18,000. How is it possible that fewer people live there than are on the voter list, and this only shows Kurti’s intention to prevent any serious financing of those municipalities,” Drecun stated.

When it comes to the reduced number of councilors, he said, there will probably be some new moves by Albin Kurti, by which he will try to marginalize the supposed victory of the Serbian List, to prevent it from fighting for the interests of the Serbian people.

"When, for example, a municipality opposes some projects that the central authorities are implementing, especially in the north, when these bases are being built, the Serbs would of course oppose that, then they can declare it a project of national importance. Kurti could put some kind of veto on decision-making in municipalities in which the Serbian List would have a majority," said Drecun.

He pointed out that the Serbian people are under terrible pressure and that the only way is for the Serbian List, in the elections, to try to stop Kurti's terror.

Raska-Prizren Diocese on meeting with UK Special Envoy: It is necessary to regulate legal position of SOC (KoSSev, meida, social media)

During a two-day visit in Kosovo, Great Britain’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Dame Karen Pierce visited Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) Gracanica Monastery, KoSSev portal reports today. She was welcomed there by Raska-Prizren Diocese Metropolitan Teodosije.

"During the tour of the church, the Metropolitan introduced the envoy Pierce to the history and importance of this medieval shrine, as well as to the spiritual, cultural and pastoral life of the Church in Kosovo and Metohija", the Diocese said in a statement. Discussion about the position of Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbs in Kosovo, followed afterwards, the statement added.

“The conversation focused especially on challenges in the field of religious rights, preservation of cultural heritage and security of objects, but also on the need to regulate the legal position of the Serbian Orthodox Church”, Raska-Prizren Diocese said.

The British Embassy in Pristina also spoke of this meeting and topics of discussion in a post on social media. "They discussed the importance of implementing Kosovo's obligations towards the Serbian Orthodox Church", the post said, referencing Pierce and Teodosije meeting.

Peci: Disrespecting Supreme Court decision represents “dictatorship of authorities” (Kosovo Online, media)

KIPRED Executive Director, Lulzim Peci said the fact that Kosovo Government in technical mandate does not respect Supreme Court decisions represents “dictatorship”, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“The manner in which the Government behaves, which de facto does not exist following the decision of the Supreme Court, is a way to dictatorship. It is holding power by force, rejecting courts’ decisions – that is a dictatorship. It does not recognize the court and says – it is only important what I say. When one reaches that point, with the name and surname – then you have entered dictatorship”, Peci said.

According to Peci the manner in which the current government behaves does not come as a surprise, given that, as he said, it chooses no means to stay in power, even by violating the principle of division of power.

Speaking of the role of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in this situation, Peci said she is “very busy travelling abroad”.

Lucic: EU should protect Telekom Srbija, Pristina does not respect its own laws when it comes to our company (Kosovo Online, Prva TV)

Commenting on statements of European Commission spokesperson that Pristina’s accusations against Telekom Srbija should be addressed by relevant Kosovo regulatory authorities, Telekom Srbija Director General, Vladimir Lucic said the EU should get involved because Albin Kurti's administration interprets its own laws differently when it comes to the Serbian company, adding the EU should not remain on the sidelines.

Lucic also said that last week’s attacks on Telekom Srbija were a prelude to new attacks planned for August, but he warned Pristina not to even attempt such actions, as the company he leads will not allow it to be treated that way.

"We had meetings with both the American and Brussels administrations. Last week's attack from Pristina on Telekom Srbija was deliberate and very dangerous. Two years ago, when they tried to disconnect us, we defended ourselves. Now, they have been creating media hysteria over the past week, claiming that we are part of a hybrid, special war, connected to terrorism. That is a dangerous narrative, indicating that (Albin) Kurti will again try radical measures against our company in August", Lucic told Belgrade-based TV Prva.

He noted that the European Commission could interpret the matter "this way or that", but emphasized Brussels has already been alerted that Kurti’s administration interprets its own laws differently when it comes to Telekom Srbija.