Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We will govern in seven municipalities, more than ever before (media)
• Krasniqi: With 187,526 votes, PDK confirmed as most voted party (media)
• Abdixhiku: LDK won 7 municipalities, including the main race of Pristina (media)
• Haradinaj says elections confirmed the power and stability of the AAK (AP)
• OSCE commends the election process, “professionalism and dedication” (media)
• Peci: I will be the mayor of all, without any exception (media)
• Court extends detention for espionage suspect Fatmir Sheholli (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Trial to five Serbs from Pomoravlje region started in Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• Christopher Hill to testify today in a trial to former KLA leaders (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic visits Kyiv, says Ukraine supports Serbia’s territorial integrity (media)
• CEC: Serbian List 10 municipalities, LVV and LDK 7 each, PDK 6 (Tanjug) 
• Do all Serbs support the “march from Kosovo”? (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)
• Detention of Sheholli extended for two more months (KoSSev)
• Opposition politician calls for pressure to have elections in Serbia as soon as possible (N1)

International:

• Kosovo’s decades-long battle with disinformation: Propaganda slowed economic growth (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian: 

• Tradition, design and cooperation - how "Avenija" workshops empower women throughout Kosovo (Media Center Caglavica) 

Albanian Language Media 

Kurti: We will govern in seven municipalities, more than ever before (media)

Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister and Vetevendosje Movement leader Albin Kurti, in a Facebook post today, thanked the people of Kosovo for participating in the mayoral runoff elections and exercising their right to vote. “You showed willingness and maturity; you contributed to democracy in Kosovo and the orientation of public policies in your municipalities. Hold accountable every mayor for the promises they made and for the situation in cities and villages,” he said.

Addressing activists of the Vetevendosje Movement, Kurti said that the party will now “govern in seven municipalities of the Republic, more than ever before. Our movement was not stopped even though all opponents came together. Thank you to each and everyone of you for your engagement. There is a lot of work and a lot of challenges ahead of us, which means that many successes and victories await us”.

Krasniqi: With 187,526 votes, PDK confirmed as most voted party in Kosovo (media)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi said today that with 187,526 votes won in the municipal elections, the PDK has been confirmed as the most voted party in Kosovo. “With 206 elected members of municipal assemblies, we remain the force with the biggest local representation in the country. And with six won municipalities – Ferizaj, Prizren, Skenderaj, Vushtrri, Kacanik and Han i Elezit, the PDK proved that success is built upon work with results and representation with dignity” he said.

Krasniqi thanked all the people of Kosovo, “throughout the country, who with their participation and high democratic culture, made these elections a model for the region and beyond”.

He said that the Democratic Party of Kosovo is more united, mature and prepared than ever for the challenges lying ahead. “In the coming days, we will focus on strengthening cooperation with the people, improving local governance and consolidating our structures throughout the country. Because this result is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter, a chapter of cooperation, regrouping and preparing for the next victories,” he said.

Abdixhiku: LDK won 7 municipalities, including the main race of Pristina (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku said today that the message of this year's municipal elections was clear that “Kosovo lives with democracy” and that “this is our biggest value as a people”. He said that the “LDK won in seven municipalities, including the incomparably main race in the country, the one that everyone aspires to, the capital city. We are the first party in Pristina in 12 years, and two victories in a row are a sign”.

Abdixhiku said that “the LDK has won with honesty, commitment and with the best people of the country. We have won with citizenry, ideas, work and commitment. Without a state apparatus, without clan-based interests, and while refusing every external influence to divide us, and with full conviction in ourselves, our citizens and our cities”.

Haradinaj says elections confirmed the power and stability of the AAK (AP)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said today that after the Sunday mayoral runoff election Kosovo proved again that it can organize elections with high democratic standards. “I express my appreciation for all the institutions of the country for their excellent work. Yesterday confirmed the political power and stability of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo,” he said in a Facebook post.

The news website notes that in the runoff elections, the AAK managed to hold its traditional strongholds by winning in Gjakova, Rahovec, Suhareka and Klina. “I want to express my deep appreciation for all our activists and structures, especially those in the diaspora, who showed commitment and honesty in every step. For me, and for each and everyone of us, this is a major result and a clear confirmation that the Alliance’s governance model brings real and positive changes for the people,” he said.

OSCE commends the election process, “professionalism and dedication” (media)

OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Gerard McGurk, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that “as polls close for the local runoff elections, I commend Chair Kreshnik Radoniqi, the Central Election Commission, and everyone involved in managing and delivering the October and November local elections. Your professionalism and dedication have strengthened democratic processes in Kosovo. Congratulations to all new and re-elected mayors — your work with and for your communities begins tomorrow. Looking forward to meeting you soon!”

Peci: I will be the mayor of all, without any exception (media)

Vetevendosje and Guxo candidate for Mitrovica South Mayor, Faton Peci, after winning in the mayoral runoff election on Sunday, said that he will be a mayor of all people, regardless of party affiliations or convictions. “Starting from today, Mitrovica will have a governance that listens, reacts and keeps its word. The municipality’s budget will turn to concrete projects, infrastructure, education, quality services and proper spaces for everyday living. Our youths need to see their future here, in Mitrovica,” Peci said in a Facebook post.

Court extends detention for espionage suspect Fatmir Sheholli (media)

Most news websites report that the Basic Court in Pristina has extended for two months the detention of Fatmir Sheholli, who was arrested on espionage charges in early October this year. A spokeswoman for the Basic Court told Radio Free Europe today that the judge accepted the request of prosecutors for Sheholli to remain in detention until the authorities are carrying out investigations. The news website also notes that on the day of Sheholli’s arrest, Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, implied that Sheholli could have spied for Serbia. “We remain committed to protect our country from all circles that do not hesitate to threaten it for their benefits. The time of Serbia’s spies in Kosovo is over,” Svecla had said in a Facebook post.

Serbian Language Media 

Trial to five Serbs from Pomoravlje region started in Pristina (Kosovo Online)

The trial of five Serbs from Pomoravlje region, accused of allegedly committing war crimes in Kosovo has started today at the Basic Court in Pristina, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The prosecution claims there is justified doubt defendants “were part of a criminal group, which in accomplice with other unidentified members, armed and dressed in masked uniforms, as regular and irregular members of the Serbian police and army, took part in the murder of eight Albanian civilians”.  

Four Serbs, Dragan Nicic, Slobodan Jevtic, Dragan Cvetkovic and Milos Sosic were arrested in Pasjane village on August 3, 2024, while the fifth Nenad Stojanovic was arrested in village of Bosce, in Kamenica. Four of them remain in detention since their arrest, while Dragan Cvetkovic was placed under house arrest.

Defence lawyer: We reiterated request to dismiss indictment

Commenting on the trial, defence lawyer of one of the arrested Serbs, Bogdan Lazic said request for a dismissal of indictment was reiterated today. He noted when it comes to his client Slobodan Jevtic, claims of his presence on the ground were made, adding the mere presence does not mean that he took part in or committed a criminal act. He also warned of his client's poor health, saying he was hospitalized in the period from 15 to 18 September. The lawyer also said they asked detention of his client be replaced with a house arrest measure. 

Christopher Hill to testify today in a trial to former KLA leaders (Kosovo Online)

Former US Ambassador to North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as the member of Richard Holbrook’s negotiation team, Christopher Hill will testify today at the Specialist Chambers in the Hague in the war crimes trial to former KLA leaders, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, Kosovo Online portal reported.

According to the court’s schedule Hill will start his testimony today at 14.00 to last until 17.00 hrs. It is also expected that he will continue his testimony over the next three days.

Christopher Hill is a long-serving US diplomat, involved directly in the crucial process related to Kosovo during his career. During the Kosovo conflict he served as US Special Envoy and took part in negotiations in Rambouillet in 1999. 

Brnabic visits Kyiv, says Ukraine supports Serbia’s territorial integrity (media)

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic met her Ukrainian counterpart Ruslan Stefanchuk in Kyiv today and said on this occasion that Belgrade appreciates very much Ukrainian’s respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity, adding that Serbia in the same manner insists on respecting the UN Charter and international law, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Addressing a joint press conference, Brnabic also said there are many joint activities between Serbia and Ukraine, adding much more can be done to reinforce cooperation and friendship. She underlined the goal of both countries is to join the EU, and that Serbia supports Ukraine on its EU path. 

She also conveyed that Serbian European Integration Minister Nemanja Sarovic informed her the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on EU Path between Serbia and Ukraine is finalized and ready to be signed. Brnabic recalled that Serbia and Ukraine foster close and friendly relations, noting that the two Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have excellent and regular communication. 

CEC: Serbian List 10 municipalities, LVV and LDK 7 each, PDK 6 (Tanjug) 

The Central Election Commission (CEC) in Pristina announced last night the preliminary results of the second round of elections in Kosovo, according to which the Self-Determination Movement (LVV) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) each won seven municipalities, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)  six, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) five, while the Serbian List (SL) won ten municipalities, reported Tanjug.

According to CEC’s results following the run-off mayoral elections in 18 municipalities, the Democratic League of Kosovo won the municipalities of Pristina, Pec, Dragas, Vitina and Junik, the Self-Determination movement won in South Mitrovica, Kosovo Polje, Gnjilane and Obilic, while the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo won in Djakovica, Suva Reka, Klina and Orahovac.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo won in Prizren, Vucitrn and Kacanik, while the Serbian List convincingly won in Klokot. Votes by mail and those of people with disabilities and developmental difficulties are not included in the CEC results.

Do all Serbs support the “march from Kosovo”? (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)

Radio Gorazdevac reported that tabloid Informer and some other media in Serbia called it a “moment of pride” and an “unprecedented popular gathering,” but that available facts show it was a politically organized gathering in support of the government, and not an authentic expression of solidarity of all Kosovo Serbs. 

The tabloid Informer published a story under the headline “Moment of pride! Serbs from Kosovo welcomed in front of the Parliament: SERBIA rushed - ‘A scene to make you shiver!’’’, claiming that more than 50,000 people welcomed the “Serbs from Kosovo” who “walked to Novi Sad for the eight days”. 

According to Radio Gorazdevac, the term “Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija” in this case was clearly misused and generalized, as it did not represent all Serbs living in Kosovo. While pro-government media tried to portray the march and rally in front of the Parliament as a unified stance of the “people of Kosovo and Metohija”, the media opined that the reality was much more complex.

In Mitrovica, Gracanica, Osojane, and Orahovac…numerous young people have in recent months publicly expressed support for students who have been protesting for a year against the fall of the canopy in Novi Sad railway station and, as they said, a corrupt and irresponsible government.

The informer’s text uses emotive expressions such as “rushed Serbia” and “a scene that will make you shiver.”

At the reception in Ćaciland, available footage and statements from participants show that it was not a spontaneous public gathering, but a politically organized gathering in support of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and its representatives.

The number of 50,000 people has not been confirmed by independent sources, the Radio Gorazdevac further said, adding among those gathered were also members of parties and public institutions, brought from various cities in Serbia.

Instead of a "historic moment of unity," it is a political rally accompanied by tabloid sensationalism and manipulation of citizens' emotions, the Radio Gorazdevac concluded. 

Detention of Sheholli extended for two more months (KoSSev)

KoSSev portal reported today citing Oath for Justice that detention of Fatmir Sheholli arrested under espionage allegations had been extended for two more months. He is accused of alleged espionage for the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA).

The news on detention extension was confirmed by the Basic Court in Pristina spokeswoman Mirlinda Gashi, the portal added. 

Opposition politician calls for pressure to have elections in Serbia as soon as possible (N1)

Leader of opposition People's Movement of Serbia, Miroslav Aleksic said "it is up to everyone who has common values ​​to fight, to do their best, to ensure that the elections take place as soon as possible" since "it is clear that the regime of Aleksandar Vucic will try to run away from the elections because it knows that it no longer has support and that Serbia has risen up against it", N1 reported.

"A decisive battle awaits us, the elections could happen in May, they could even happen at the end of the year if we are not strong enough to pressure them to be held in the spring", said Aleksic, opening a session of the Main Board of his party.

According to him the government is trying to divide people who stand for the same cause, the same values: "us in this hall, but also students, farmers, doctors, lawyers, all the people who have stood up against this situation in which we live". "Only together and united can we oppose this dictatorial regime. There must not be an iota of division among those who advocate for the same values", he added. 

International

Kosovo’s decades-long battle with disinformation: Propaganda slowed economic growth (Prishtina Insight)

Disinformation and propaganda targeting Kosovo after the war have contributed to its slower economic development and green transition compared to other countries in the region.

As a post-war country under international security supervision, Kosovo was expected to become an attractive zone for foreign investment but has struggled to do so amid persistent disinformation campaigns about its land and natural resources.

Disinformation narratives, mainly originating in Serbia and Russia, have sought to undermine the establishment of Kosovo’s institutions since 1999. Beyond that, Serbia has not even recognised Kosovo’s independence declared on February 17, 2008, despite it having been ruled in accordance with international law by the International Court of Justice in 2010. This has severely damaged potential investors’ confidence in Kosovo, which has not yet been able to reach the same level of economic development as other countries in the region.

Economic growth in Kosovo is expected to reach 3.8 percent in both 2025 and 2026.

Growth will be supported by increased consumption and investment. However, according to the World Bank’s spring 2025 report, economic uncertainty, especially regarding global trade, persists.

An investigation by KALLXO.com, aired on October 31, 2025, highlighted the testimonies of people working in different areas—including in the government, diplomacy, and business—who, for more than two decades, have observed up close how foreign propaganda has hindered Kosovo’s economy.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2zt25733

Humanitarian/Development

Tradition, design and cooperation - how "Avenija" workshops empower women throughout Kosovo (Media Center Caglavica) 

As part of the project "Understanding the richness of diversity", the Business Women's Association "Avenija" organized four workshops in the last month in which women from almost all communities in Kosovo participated, reported Media Center Caglavica. 

Among the participants are those already engaged in entrepreneurship, but also women who want to learn how to recognize and develop small businesses based on their ideas, skills and interests.

Gordana Djoric, president of the Association of Business Women "Avenija", told Media Center Caglavica that the project was designed to gather ''women from all communities, to learn many things together, to socialize. All this with an aim to improve the quality of their products along with combining tradition and modern design to do business better, as well as to market the products better''. 

The project is financially supported by UNMIK, and it is planned to hold two more workshops, which will be followed by fairs. 

"After these training sessions, we will have ethnic fairs in the House of Culture in Gracanica and Prizren, where we will present all their works and products and show that we women can do a lot of positive things together", Djoric announced. 

In addition to acquiring business knowledge, the workshops aim to strengthen cooperation and understanding among different ethnic communities.

"The main goal is to get to know each other, to break the barriers between ethnic national communities, because here, life has been going on under a glass bell for too long, especially when it comes to women from the countryside. Everyone in their community has their own narrow space, and the idea is to finally cross paths with it and to return to some normal life and cooperation and create some small opportunities for small business, which would be based on ethnic characteristics”, said Milena Vasic, a lecturer who is a long-time member of "Avenija".

Vasic points out that such trainings are necessary especially for women who plan to start their own business, and that she is satisfied with the atmosphere and engagement of the participants.

The participants come from different communities in Kosovo. They say that such workshops mean a lot to them.

"I want to thank Gordana for this project, this is not our first project, there were other workshops, we are glad, this means a lot to us, we learned a lot at this workshop. I hope we will have more workshops; I am glad that I am with these women, and we learned a lot", said Bojana Mitic from Laplje Selo.

"Women gathered who are already doing something, whether it's embroidery, food, sweets... This is very useful for us, because even though we started doing something, that knowledge is necessary to build on and restore some old things that have already passed. Also, these mutual experiences and contacts with new people are especially important to us, so I'm very much looking forward to these meetings and meeting new women", said Gordana Toskic from the "On spoon catering" Association.

Esma Eminovic from Preoce, who is engaged in sewing Roma dresses and costumes, pointed out that she acquired her knowledge precisely in Avenija.

"I am engaged in sewing dresses and costumes, Romani costumes. When there are weddings, most people come to arrange the clothes. I learned sewing in Avenija, and I have been a member of Avenija for 15 years", she said.

Ajla Abdula from the Gorani community says that the workshops are an opportunity to gain experience and connect.

"Most of us are engaged in something, whether it's handicrafts, whether it's making sweets, you all know who Gorani are, and it's a wind at my back when I come somewhere and hear "you are Gorans, you know everything". And then we really know everything, but we only use it for ourselves. It's good to go out, learn new techniques, socialize with people, and the clientele. First, when you come here, you'll certainly learn something, get new contacts, socialize with people and you can apply all of that", she said. 

The workshops also discussed, among other things, customs of different communities, especially wedding traditions.