Albanian Language Media:

• Ballot order set for October 12 local elections (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo, a unique case of post-war state-building (media)
• Kurti on Prime Minister nominee: General Council to meet Sunday (Koha)
• Hoti: Washington Agreement a missed opportunity (media)
• Bislimi: Kosovo should advance toward EU candidate status (media)
• Rexha: Attacks against media and reporters are organized (media)
• How NGO close to Serbian spy monitored Kosovo police officers (Klan)
• Special Prosecutor files espionage charges against former OSCE official (media)

Serbian Language Media:

 

• Vucic: Pristina did not want to implement the Washington Agreement, just as it did not want to implement any other (Kosovo Online, RTV, Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Vucic meets Xi Jinping: “Ironclad friends” (Tanjug, Beta, N1)
• N1 Slovenia: Vucic and Macut were not even invited to the Bled Strategic Forum (N1, N1 Slovenia, Danas)
• From war fronts to social networks: How does violent extremism affect Kosovo? (RFE, Kim Radio)
• Kapchan: The Washington Agreement was largely about trade relations, Kurti’s policy was wrong (Kosovo Online)
• Kosovo police confiscated the “stamp of parallel institutions” at Brnjak yesterday (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• U.S. diplomacy in the Western Balkans (GIS/Albanian Post)

International:

 

• Reality TV ‘normalising’ hate and violence in Kosovo, critics say (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Ballot order set for October 12 local elections (media)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) held a draw today to determine the ballot order of political entities for Kosovo’s local elections, scheduled for October 12. A total of 5,626 candidates will compete—206 for mayoral positions and the rest for municipal assembly seats. The CEC has certified a total of 93 entities, comprising 32 political parties, 32 civic initiatives, two coalitions, and 27 independent candidates.

According to the draw, the Vetevendosje Movement will appear on the ballot under number 105, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) under 191, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) under 113, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) under 174. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) will run under number 149, Alternativa under 103, Nisma under 186, GUXO under 118, while the civic initiative “Per Drenasin Kampion me Ramiz Lladrovci” will be listed under number 101.

The Serbian List received ballot number 170 in the draw for Kosovo’s local elections. Representatives of the party were absent during the draw, so a CEC official assigned the number.

Kurti: Kosovo, unique case of post-war state-building (media)

Caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Kosovo represents a “sui generis” case of post-war state-building, describing it as a success story recognized by international organizations. Speaking at the KosovaPAR 2025 conference in Pristina, he highlighted reforms undertaken by his government to ensure lasting and irreversible progress.

The conference, organized for the third year by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, focused on “Capacity in Public Administration for or through AI?”, exploring the role of artificial intelligence in governance. It brought together state leaders, diplomats, academics, civil society, and regional representatives for 14 panels, two main sessions, and a roundtable discussion.

Kurti on Prime Minister nominee: General Council to meet Sunday (Koha)

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti declined to confirm whether his party will submit a nominee for prime minister to the President, saying only that the General Council will convene on Sunday. He made the remarks during the second day of the KosovaPAR 2025 international conference on public administration.

While Albanian parliamentary parties have contested the constitution of Kosovo’s Assembly, the Constitutional Court is currently reviewing only one complaint, filed by the Serbian List. Civil society groups have urged the President to seek clarification from the Court before proposing a nominee for government formation. Observers note that even with the Serbian List’s complaint, the Court has sufficient grounds to issue a constitutional ruling on the Assembly’s formation.

Hoti: Washington Agreement a missed opportunity (media)

Former Prime Minister and current LDK MP Avdullah Hoti has criticized Kosovo’s institutions for neglecting the Washington Agreement, signed on September 4, 2020. Marking its fifth anniversary, Hoti said the agreement represented a “historic achievement” that offered Kosovo strategic opportunities: strengthening ties with the U.S., boosting international recognition, and positioning Kosovo as a regional hub for road, rail, and energy infrastructure.

He stressed that projects such as turning Fushe-Kosovë into a dry port linking Durres and Thessaloniki with Central Europe could have transformed Kosovo’s economic role, while politically the agreement secured recognition from Israel. Hoti argued that despite initial criticism from the then-opposition, today all political actors recognize its strategic importance.

Bislimi: Kosovo should advance toward EU candidate status (media)

During a visit to Copenhagen, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi attended an informal meeting of European affairs ministers from EU member and aspiring states, hosted by Denmark’s Foreign Ministry. “A good opportunity to deepen discussions on the country’s European future and to reiterate our position that Kosovo deserves to advance on its path toward the European Union, where the next step should be the acceptance of the questionnaire and the granting of candidate status,” he wrote on Facebook.

Bislimi also met with the Kosovar diaspora in Denmark, discussing Kosovo’s economic progress, EU integration path, and current developments.

Rexha: Attacks against media and reporters are organized (media)

Chairman of the Board of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Xhemajl Rexha, said in a debate on Klan Kosova on Wednesday that attacks against the media and reporters in Kosovo are not accidental and that they are organized. “There has not been any dialogue, the language has become more aggravated and there were continuous attacks which I believe are organized. They are done consciously with the purpose of denigrating the work of reporters and the media especially when they report with all the facts about a government scandal or mismanagement of public funds,” he argued.

According to Rexha, the purpose of the attacks is to send a message to the public that they shouldn’t trust the media even when the facts are obvious. “Very often, reporters that do their job are faced with ungrounded accusations that they are against Kosovo,” he said.

How NGO close to Serbian spy monitored Kosovo police officers (Klan)

A program in Klan Kosova revealed exclusive data of the Serb non-governmental organization Aktiv, based in Kosovo, which published a report in December 2024, focusing in detail on the work of Kosovo Police, and following the activity of police officers on social networks. The report, according to Klan Kosova, no longer appears on the webpage of the NGO.

Klan Kosova reporter Kushtrim Bekolli, who secured the material of the organization, also talked about the connection of the NGO with Serbian spy, Ana Murganic, who was arrested in August in Croatia together with her Croatian partner, on suspicion of committing the criminal offence of espionage. 

Bekolli initially talked about the board of Aktiv and said that the NGO operates in Kosovo with two addresses, one in Mitrovica North and another one in Pristina. He said that the report of the NGO, which is still active and gets funds from the Kosovo government too, followed a methodology of work using “hashtags” of police units. He said that the images used by the organization included Albanian symbols, as well as patriotic songs, used by members of Kosovo Police.  “According to this organization, these songs are ultra-nationalistic and call for the extermination of Serbia,” Bekolli said.

The reporter further explained that in addition to publishing the songs, the NGO also wrote lyrics by translating them in English.

Commenting on this, Adnan Sogojeva said that the whole report threatens Kosovo’s national security. “I think the main objective of this organization is to attack the police and the state of Kosovo,” he argued.

Bekolli also said that the Serb NGO looked into profiles linked with the Special Unit of Kosovo Police and soldiers of the Kosovo Security Force. According to him, the NGO could be a wide espionage network. 

Bekolli said that in its report the organization included photos of members of the Kosovo Police Special Unit making the double-headed sign. 

Bekolli also said that the objective of the organization is to smear Kosovo police officers and soldiers and also the Kosovo Liberation Army. 

Special Prosecutor files espionage charges against former OSCE official (media)

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against a former OSCE official, J.Dj., for the criminal offense of espionage. She was arrested in March 2025. J.Dj. is accused of knowingly and repeatedly assisting the intelligence activities of a foreign service, specifically the Intelligence and Security Agency of the Republic of Serbia (BIA), while serving as a “National Programme Officer” at the OSCE regional Centre in Mitrovica. Prosecutors state that she provided and shared sensitive documents and information to the BIA, actions that threatened Kosovo’s constitutional order, national security, and the safety of state officials, citizens, and OSCE personnel.

Investigations suggest that J.Dj., following instructions from now-convicted espionage agent A.V., contributed to creating a hostile narrative against Kosovo’s security institutions, sovereignty, and integrity through official meetings and OSCE reports. The information she obtained was reportedly transmitted to senior BIA officials, including R.G., responsible for Novi Pazar region, and L.B., with whom she reportedly met several times in Belgrade.

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has requested that the court extend her pre-trial detention and if found guilty, she could face penalties in accordance with applicable law. 

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic: Pristina did not want to implement the Washington Agreement, just as it did not want to implement any other (Kosovo Online, RTV, Tanjug, KiM radio)

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated today, on the occasion of the five-year anniversary of the Washington Agreement, that it was primarily an economic agreement, but that Pristina did not want to implement it—just as it did not want to implement any agreement.

Recalling that Joseph Biden, who soon after replaced Donald Trump as U.S. President, wanted the Washington Agreement to be forgotten and replaced with new ones, Vucic stressed that the Brussels Agreement would nevertheless have to be implemented and the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities established.

“We had, above all, an economic agreement. They pushed part of their political agenda, which had nothing to do with that—whether we would recognize them or not. They tried, and I refused. It was primarily an economic agreement, which they did not want to implement. They don’t want to implement any agreement. And my problem is not with them… Trump then lost power, Biden came, who wanted the Washington Agreement to be put aside, to implement some new one, and for the Brussels Agreement to be forgotten,” Vucic said in response to a Kosovo Online reporter’s question.

He underlined that this would not work: the Brussels Agreement must be implemented and the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities formed.

“This way, they can only enforce brute force, but to persuade us to recognize Kosovo… That is not going to happen,” Vucic emphasized.

Vucic meets Xi Jinping: “Ironclad friends” (Tanjug, Beta, N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic thanked Chinese president Xi Jinping for the warm welcome he received in Beijing and for China’s continuous support for Serbia, describing the two countries as “ironclad friends.”

“We see China as a sincere and reliable partner, and President Xi stood by us when times were toughest, economically, in healthcare, and politically,” Vucic wrote in a post on Instagram following his meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The Serbian president emphasized that “Serbia can never and will never forget this.”

Vucic further said that, thanks to President Xi’s initiatives and the Free Trade Agreement, Serbia’s trade volume has never been higher.

“I also briefed him on the progress of infrastructure projects we are working on with the Chinese partners’ help, including the fact that the international Belgrade-Budapest railway will open for traffic in 15 days,” Vucic noted. He gave special thanks for all Chinese company investments in Serbia and extended an invitation for new investments in the future.

Vucic also said he spoke with Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress about the comprehensive strategic partnership between Serbia and China, their cooperation built on mutual trust, genuine friendship, and a shared vision for development.

The meeting was also attended by members of the Serbian delegation, including Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Jagoda Lazarevic, Minister without portfolio in charge of international economic cooperation and the social position of the church in the country and abroad Nenad Popovic, Assistant Minister of Defense Nenad Miloradovic, and President of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China Tomslav Nikolic.

Ahead of the meeting with the Chinese president, Vucic said that China is one of the most important countries in the world for Serbia and that he would ask Xi Jinping for good things for Serbia during their talks.

N1 Slovenia: Vucic and Macut were not even invited to the Bled Strategic Forum (N1, N1 Slovenia, Danas)

Serbian President Aleksandra Vucic and Prime Minister Djuro Macut were not even invited to the Bled Strategic Forum, the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs told N1 Slovenia, reported Danas. 

Danas writes that according to unofficial information, the President of Serbia asked for an invitation to Bled but did not receive it.

"The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the Prime Minister of Serbia, Djuro Macut, were not invited to the Bled Strategic Forum. The Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Djuric, who participated in the Forum, was invited," the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in its response to N1.

As N1 Slovenia unofficially learns, President Vucic requested that he also attend the forum in Bled, but he did not receive an invitation.

Instead of Slovenia, Vucic traveled to China, where he attended a military parade on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II.

However, his version of events is different. On Wednesday, September 3, Vucic said from Beijing that Prime Minister Macut was invited to the Strategic Forum, but that he "rightly did not go" due to the presence of "blockaders".

"They invited their blockaders to come to Bled, to be their guests there, let them host them and let them talk with them about strategic matters, since the blockaders will take over power in Serbia in a few days - I've been listening to that story for 13, 14 years now," Vucic told reporters in Beijing, answering a question to comment on allegations in certain media that he was wrong to go to China and not to the Strategic Forum in Bled.

He compared the conversations he says he was able to have in Bled with the meetings he had in China.

"To compare the relationship and conversation with Andrej Plenkovic and I don't know who else, which I had a million of, and I listened to as much nonsense as you want... and to compare it with meetings here with President (China's Jinping) Xi, with President (Russia's Vladimir) Putin, with (Prime Minister of Slovakia) Robert Fico, with President (Uzbekistan Shavkat) Mirziyoyev, with President (Azerbaijan Ilham) Aliyev, with the president (of Indonesia Subianto) Prabowo, believe me, it's like comparing the Premier League and the Belgrade zone," said Vucic, commenting on the composition and importance of the guests at Bled.

From war fronts to social networks: How does violent extremism affect Kosovo? (RFE, Kim Radio)

The threat of violent extremism in Kosovo is no longer related only to the battlefields of the Middle East but also takes place in the online sphere.

RFE writes that on social networks and through anonymous profiles, radical ideologies are finding new ways to spread their influence.

Recent cases monitored by the Special Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo show that propaganda inspired by the militant organization so-called Islamic State (IS) continues to have an impact on certain layers of society.

The question arises: is Kosovo ready for this kind of threat?

The Prosecutor's Office states that it cooperates closely with the police, as well as with other domestic and international security institutions in the investigation of such cases.

"Two investigations are currently underway. From the beginning of 2025 until today, two indictments have been brought against two people for the criminal offense of causing discord and intolerance through ideological propaganda and support for the Islamic State," the Special Prosecutor's Office responded to RFE, cited Radio KiM. 

According to the announcement of the Prosecutor's Office on August 14, the two defendants used the social network Facebook to publish photos and videos of radicalized persons to spread content that encourages intolerance and appeals to religious extremism.

Also, last month a person with the initials S.C. was sentenced to six months in prison for causing discord and intolerance.

According to the Criminal Code of Kosovo, this criminal offense is punishable by a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years.

From religion to ultranationalism

Adrian Shtuni, a foreign policy and security expert at the Washington-based International Counter-Terrorism Center, says Kosovo faces two dangerous forms of extremism spreading through the Internet: one religious-based, and the other ultra-nationalist, supremacist and separatist.

For the first one, he states that it is more visible and more often the topic of public debate, while the ultra-nationalist one is often portrayed as "fierce patriotism".

"Kosovo is very vulnerable due to heightened political tensions and social polarization, which also manifested itself through inter-ethnic conflicts," Shtuni told RFE. 

Skender Perteshi from the Prevent Institute for Security and Resilience is of a similar opinion, who says that radicalism with religious overtones remains one of the most worrying forms of extremism in Kosovo, right after ethno-nationalist extremism.

He explains to RFE that social networks have become the main tool for spreading propaganda, where extremist individuals and groups hide their activities behind religion and primarily target young people.

"There are closed groups in which certain persons share messages with radical religious content. Some of them present themselves as imams, although they do not live in Kosovo, but they spread religious propaganda via the Internet, which has a serious impact," says Perteshi. 

According to him, their goal is to ''undermine the democratic system and citizens' trust in the values of the West and international allies''.

In the Islamic Community of Kosovo, they point out that online platforms often spread teachings that interpret the doctrine in a rigid way and offer interpretations that not only misinform believers but also encourage radicalism.

"Those who act like that give themselves the right to interpret everything, regardless of the time, cultural, traditional and doctrinal context of the country they live in," Ahmet Sadriu, secretary general of the Islamic Community of Kosovo, told RFE.

"The possibility of indoctrination is real and as such is a concern for all of us," he stresses.

Who is hiding behind these propagandists?

Shtuni states that identifying the authors of extremist propaganda on the Internet is not simple.

According to him, they operate at different levels: some are known globally, some regionally, and some locally.

Many of them use the anonymity provided by the Internet, which makes it difficult to precisely identify the groups or individuals who fund their activities.

He explains that while some groups openly spread "Islamic State" propaganda in the Albanian language to radicalize their audience, others focus on inciting division and inter-ethnic conflict.

"For example, countries like Russia have sophisticated propaganda and disinformation platforms, whose aim is to cause inter-ethnic polarization in Kosovo and the Balkans, and which have intensified their activities after the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022," Shtuni points out.

Luke Baumgartner, a researcher on extremism issues at George Washington University, states that numerous studies have been conducted on the demographic characteristics of extremists and terrorists - from the extreme right to the extreme left.

However, there is no single profile - "what is most often noticed is that they are young men".

"Online extremists are usually young people who feel insecure and limited about their social and economic opportunities," Baumgartner told RFE.

He indicates that such extremists still pose a threat, and that one spark in the form of a global event, such as war in Gaza, to increase their influence rapidly.

Who is the target and through which platforms?

Based on research conducted by the Prevent Institute, Skender Perteshi says that in Kosovo, the most frequent targets of extremist propaganda are adolescents and young people under 26 years of age.

A similar situation is observed at the global level, says Luke Baumgartner.

He especially points out vulnerable categories, such as young people with mental difficulties or members of the LGBTIQ community, which he states can more easily become targets of manipulation or potential perpetrators of violence.

"Essentially, any person who feels excluded or isolated from the society around them is more likely to become a victim," says Baumgartner.

The platforms most often used to spread extremist propaganda are social networks such as Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and others.

"These platforms, especially those that enable communication through encrypted messages, are also used for planning and coordinating illegal activities, and for financing various actions of violent extremist groups," explains Shtuni. 

Is Kosovo ready to face this threat?

Experts warn that this is a challenge that is not only of a security nature, but also of a social nature.

In order to effectively fight against online radicalization, Kosovo, according to them, needs to strengthen the resistance of young people to propaganda, increase the capacity of law enforcement institutions and invest more in civic and digital education.

"Security institutions in Kosovo have information and are very active. Every day they arrest suspects, close various pages on social networks, make analytical assessments and conduct investigations," says Skender Perteshi. 

In 2023, Kosovo adopted a new Strategy for the prevention and fight against terrorism, which will be in force until 2028.

The document is based on four strategic objectives: prevention, protection, prosecution and response.

However, according to Mentor Vrajolli, an associate of the Kosovo Center for Security Studies in Pristina, the attention of the authorities is almost entirely focused on breaking the parallel Serbian structures in Kosovo.

"As a result, it seems that the problem of violent extremism with a religious background has lost institutional attention", assesses Vrajolli for RFE.

He warns that such neglect, in the long run, could pose a serious risk.

"That's why prevention measures and the fight against this phenomenon must be continuous," emphasizes Vrajolli.

Kosovans in the war in Syria

After the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, more than 350 Kosovans went there, mostly to join the ranks of the so-called Islamic states.

According to the Center for Combating Terrorism at the US Military Academy West Point, Kosovo has become one of the largest sources of European jihadists in relation to the number of inhabitants.

With about 16 jihadists for every 100,000 residents, the recruitment rate was eight times higher than in France, the country that sent the largest number of foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq.

Until the defeat of the "Islamic State" at the end of 2017, most of the Kosovo fighters were in the territories under the control of the Al-Nusra group, the Syrian branch of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.

It is believed that around 100 Kosovans still reside in the territory of Syria and Iraq, although since 2019, hundreds of them have been returned through repatriation processes organized by Kosovo.

Many of them also faced justice upon returning. 

What strategies are most effective?

Baumgartner says governments are often powerless when it comes to preventing online radicalization.

According to him, the main responsibility lies with social networks that do not sufficiently regulate content of an extremist nature.

"Platforms like X have become havens for neo-Nazis and right-wing extremists - with no intention of stricter moderation. Meta has also laid off a large number of security and fact-checking staff on its platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp," says Baumgartner.

According to him, only Telegram has taken concrete steps, closing channels and groups that promote terrorism or gather terrorist organizations.

As Shtuni points out, one of the most effective state strategies in dealing with extremist ideologies is the reduction of political tensions and social polarization.

"The best defense against violent extremism is the fair resolution of political, social and economic challenges in the spirit of tolerance and constructiveness," said Shtuni.

Kapchan: The Washington Agreement was largely about trade relations, Kurti’s policy was wrong (Kosovo Online)

Senior Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations and Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University Charles Kapchan told Kosovo Online that the most important result of the Washington Agreement was its symbolism, rather than its actual practical consequences.

He also noted that the Washington Agreement was largely about trade relations, but if politics is not properly understood, trade and investments will not help. As he observed, the problem was that the policy under the leadership of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti was misguided.

Kapchan stressed that the number one symbolism of the Washington Agreement was that the United States was willing to get involved in resolving the long-standing conflict between Kosovo and Serbia.

“Number two is that progress can be achieved, that Pristina and Belgrade can in fact reach an agreement on something, even if it is economic in nature and not about broader political issues. But the problem is that since then nothing has really happened. In fact, I would say the process has moved backwards, despite the agreement put on the table by the European Union. Neither Belgrade nor Pristina were able to move the ball forward in the normalization process,” Kapchan explained.

He pointed out that the Washington Agreement was largely about trade relations, and that he does not believe trade can really make a difference.

“You have to get the politics right, and then economic integration can help achieve an agreement. But if you don’t get politics right, trade and investment won’t help. And the problem is that politics under Prime Minister Kurti’s leadership was wrong. Kosovo, in a way, pursued a very nationalist policy. Kurti made some decisions about license plates, about mayors in the north who did not move forward with the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, which in many respects set back Kosovo’s case in Europe and in the United States. People began blaming Pristina for the problem, while in many aspects it was Belgrade that was dragging its feet,” the professor assessed.

From a political perspective, he added, neither Pristina nor Belgrade were in a position to advance the agreement.

“And as a result, I think it will take renewed engagement by the Trump administration to get the process moving,” Kapchan opined.

Given that Trump, as he said, is interested in being a peacemaker and in brokering deals, he could once again get involved.

“Trump wants to be a peacemaker. He wants to be the one who makes deals. His main priorities are Gaza and the Middle East, and Ukraine. But he has also brought together parties from Africa, gathered Armenians and Azerbaijanis, claiming that he helped end conflicts, short conflicts between India and Pakistan, although the Indians were not too happy about that claim, and he has occasionally mentioned Kosovo and Serbia. So, given that Trump is interested in being a peacemaker and in making deals, he could now reengage, and I think it will take joint pressure from the U.S. and the European Union to encourage the parties in Belgrade and Pristina to make the tough compromises and concessions necessary to move the two countries not only toward economic normalization but also toward the greater prize, which is political normalization,” Kapchan said.

Much of this, he added, depends on whether Trump feels he has “breathing space,” since he is heavily engaged with Russia and Ukraine, with Israel, Gaza, the broader Middle East, and Iran, as they attempt to reach a new nuclear agreement.

“He is dealing with the rise of China and, as a result, Kosovo and Serbia do not immediately rise to the level of presidential attention, but they are clearly on Trump’s radar. He may see Kosovo and Serbia as ‘low-hanging fruit,’ an unresolved conflict in which he could make significant progress. And so, he may return to Ric Grenell, or other members of his team, like Steven Witkoff, and see if he can make some headway in the Balkans,” our interlocutor concluded.

Kosovo police confiscated the “stamp of parallel institutions” at Brnjak yesterday (KoSSev)

Kosovo Police confiscated at Brnjak crossing last night the seal of a Serbian institution in Kosovo, that is, as Pristina defines them, “parallel structures”.

The case was registered late last night, ie. ten minutes before midnight.

The police stated that their units then found a disputed item in a vehicle driven by a Serbian citizen.

“During the search of a vehicle with Serbian license plates, which was driven by the suspect, a citizen of Serbia, police units found and took away the stamp of parallel structures in the Serbian language” the statement reads, adding that the “suspect” was released after questioning.

This case is being further investigated and has been classified as “creation and use of false markings”.

In the statement, it is not specified what kind of stamp it is, that is, to which specific “parallel structure” it belongs.

KoSSev reminded that this is not the first time that the Kosovo police seize stamps of Serbian institutions at the crossings.

At the end of last year, the director of the primary school in Gojbulja was detained in Jarinje, because he had the seal of this school, which was also confiscated.

Opinion

U.S. diplomacy in the Western Balkans (GIS/Albanian Post)

President Trump will likely take a different policy approach than his predecessors in supporting stability in the region.  

Opinion piece by James Jay Carafano

This year marked the 30th anniversary of both the Srebrenica genocide and the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian War in 1995. While the Western Balkans – consisting of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – have avoided widespread conflict since the end of the NATO-Serbia War of 1999, many of the post-conflict aspirations for peace, security and prosperity have remained largely unfulfilled.  

The United States has had a major interest in the region for some time. U.S. troops continue to support NATO’s Kosovo Force mission, and President Donald Trump intervened to deter potential escalation between Serbia and Kosovo earlier this year. The president’s desire to serve as peacemaker in the Western Balkans, expand economic opportunities there, and promote greater European stability may lead to new U.S. regional initiatives. This, in turn, would allow Washington to focus more attention and resources on the challenge of China. 

External strategic pressures mount

One factor that has consistently complicated efforts to resolve issues in the Western Balkans is the strong influence of external powers. Now, particularly following the election of President Trump, these actors, and the relations between them, are undergoing significant changes that could affect new policy initiatives in the region.  

Russia’s objective remains to thwart Balkan nations’ full integration into NATO and the European Union and maintain Moscow’s influence exploiting ethnic, religious and political divisions. Yet, there is no question the war against Ukraine dominates the Kremlin’s attention. As in the Southern Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East, states are now increasingly willing to assert their independence from Moscow’s influence, balancing any repercussions against declining Russian power. With the U.S. and Russia at loggerheads over Washington’s demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine, the White House has little motivation to care about Russia’s equities in the Western Balkans.  

Turkiye continues its traditional policy of influence in the region through political and economic engagement, as well as support of Islamic cultural and religious activities. Increasingly, however, Ankara and Washington are focusing on pragmatic relations, which could serve as the basis for cooperation on matters of mutual interest in the Western Balkans. 

Beijing seeks to further expand its presence in the area. Several countries are vulnerable to its influence, including Montenegro, which could fall into a debt trap due to extensive Chinese investments in its local infrastructure projects. China’s economy, however, has deep structural weaknesses and the regime is widely engaged – and perhaps overextended – globally, which may make it less willing to press its advantage in regions of marginal value.  

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/499dnum2

International

Reality TV ‘normalising’ hate and violence in Kosovo, critics say (BIRN)

With a new season of 'Big Brother VIP Kosova' around the corner, calls are growing for greater moderation of violent, hate-filled content and better media literacy.

Eighteen-year-old Dea Hamiti has watched all three seasons of the Kosovo edition of Big Brother VIP. So have all her friends.

“Even though there are insults, shouting and swearing, we’re constantly watching it,” said Hamiti.

Season 4 of Big Brother VIP is in the works, likely starting in the autumn on Klan Kosova TV, a popular private broadcaster.

But not everyone is as enthusiastic as Hamiti.

Indeed, civil society groups and Kosovo authorities have accused the show of giving a platform to hate speech, abuse and gender-based violence.

The third installment, late last year, triggered outrage when the ex-husband of contestant Drenusha Latifi, a singer and model, was brought into the house despite an outstanding domestic abuse charge against him based on a complaint by Latifi.

Activists said the show normalised abuse.

Read more at:  https://tinyurl.com/mpu374uf