Albanian Language Media: 

• PDK leader Memli Krasniqi resigns (media)
• CEC forms commission to review ballot issues in Mitrovica and Gjakova (media)
• Basha meets Jiri Plecity, discuss Growth Plan (media)
• Basha: Documenting war crimes is the foundation of justice (media)
• Media groups urge Kosovo to resolve RTK crisis (media)
• Wesley Clark to begin his testimony at the Special Court on Monday (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Washington’s constructive role in the normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina is useful and necessary (Kosovo Online) 
• PM Macut: Serbia has met all technical requirements for EU membership, member states’ political decisions the only obstacle (N1, Beta)
• Threats to Sarovic through social networks and messaging app because of the video with Vukasinovic (KiM radio, N1, KoSSev) 
• T7 Talk Show cut short after heated exchange – Kosovo’s FM sparks outrage with remarks against media (KoSSev)
• NUNS condemns dangerous words by Bratina (N1)

International Media: 

• Kosovo’s Thaci didn’t make decisions in KLA, Hague Court hears (BIRN)
• Leader of Democratic Party of Kosovo, Memli Krasniqi, Steps Down (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

PDK leader Memli Krasniqi resigns (media)

Memli Krasniqi resigned his position as leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). He announced his resignation at a press conference on Wednesday, following the meeting of the party’s leadership. Krasniqi said that this is a step of reflection and responsibility to create new momentum for the PDK. “What began as a youthful and idealistic engagement turned into the most important journey of my life. Over twenty years of involvement with the PDK have given me the honor to work for my state and my citizens, from Chairman of the Democratic Youth to Chairman of the Democratic Party. Above all, I have had the incomparable honor of signing the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo,” he said.

He emphasized that this decision is not related to any recent political developments, but rather to the need to give the party “a new spirit and a new opportunity for the future.” “I leave the position of leader of the PDK with peace, gratitude, and pride. I am deeply convinced that the PDK will remain in safe hands, in the hands of people who believe, who work, and who unite. This is not a farewell, but only a see you later. Because this is my second home, my political home, the home of my lifelong pride,” he said in conclusion.

Krasniqi also announced that he has called the PDK Convention to elect the new party chairman on November 17. According to Koha’s sources within the PDK, Bedri Hamza is expected to take over as party chairman. “If my friend Bedri Hamza runs for the leader, he has my support,” Krasniqi said.

Hamza later reacted on Facebook, thanking Krasniqi for his contribution to the party. “Today, more than ever, we need to remain united, dedicated, and determined in facing the challenges ahead. Our unity, trust, and shared commitment are the greatest strength of the PDK and the guarantee of our success,” Hamza wrote.

Krasniqi was elected leader of the PDK on July 3, 2021.

CEC forms commission to review ballot issues in Mitrovica and Gjakova (media)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kosovo has established a commission to review and verify ballots in Mitrovica and Gjakova after errors were found in ballot codes. The issue, identified in reports from municipal election commissions, involved mismatched polling station codes which according to the printing company CETIS was caused by a printing mistake.

CEC Chair Kreshnik Radoniqi said the company confirmed a small number of ballots had incorrect codes and that a detailed report has been submitted for the Prosecutor’s Office and the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (PZAP). The commission will open ballot boxes to assess the extent of the issue.

The problem led the Prosecutor’s Office to order a new verification process in South Mitrovica. While the CEC and CETIS described it as a technical error, political reactions followed: PDK called for a re-vote, whereas Vetevendosje considered the mistake to be merely technical.

Basha meets Jiri Plecity, discuss Growth Plan (media)

The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Dimal Basha, met with the Head of the Division for Kosovo at the European Commission, Jiri Plecity, and his team. Basha informed them about the approval of the 2026 Budget, including allocations for RTK and for the three municipalities: Zvecan, Gjilan, and Prishtina. According to a press release from the Assembly’s Media Department, during the meeting Speaker Basha and Plecity also discussed the ratification of the Agreement on the Growth Plan and the Reform Agenda. “Both parties shared the belief that these initiatives go beyond political divisions, representing a common national interest, the development of the country, the improvement of citizens’ lives, and the acceleration of our path toward the European family. Basha expressed his full support for their submission by the President and for the swift handling of this agreement, as well as other international agreements that require urgent attention due to set deadlines,” the statement reads.

Furthermore, it is stated that Speaker Basha requested that Plecity also meet with representatives of all political parties in Kosovo, in order to further encourage the swift ratification of the Agreement in the Assembly. “Our goal remains the advancement of reforms and stability for the good of the citizens of the Republic,” emphasized Speaker Basha.

Basha: Documenting war crimes is the foundation of justice (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Dimal Basha, together with Deputy Speaker Albulena Haxhiu, met on Wednesday with the Director of the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War in Kosovo, Atdhe Hetemi, who presented the institute’s annual work report for the period from November 8, 2024, to November 9, 2025. During the meeting, they discussed the important work being carried out by the institute in preserving and documenting the historical memory of the people of Kosovo. Speaker Basha thanked Director Hetemi and the Institute’s staff for their dedication to truth and for documenting the suffering of the people during the Serbian regime. “Documenting war crimes, expulsions, rapes, and massacres is an act of remembrance in the service of justice. As a state and as a society, we have both a moral and institutional duty to support this work, to ensure that the past is not forgotten, and to seek justice for every crime committed in Kosovo,” emphasized Basha.

Media groups urge Kosovo to resolve RTK crisis (media)

Most news websites reported that 17 media groups have sent a letter to Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti urging him to take immediate action to enable the payment of RTK’s approved funds and to ensure the broadcaster’s continued operation. “Dear Prime Minister Kurti, We, the undersigned organisations, express our serious concern regarding the ongoing financial, managerial and governance crisis at Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK). The situation has become critical and requires immediate action by the Government to enable the payment of RTK’s approved funds and to ensure the broadcaster’s continued operation. RTK plays a vital role in Kosovo’s democratisation, social cohesion and European integration process. Yet it currently operates without access to its budget, without a fully constituted Board, and without a legally mandated Director General. Employees have gone unpaid, and repeated protests reflect growing frustration and social instability. The EBU addressed you on this issue in July, when the funding was only temporarily resolved through an exceptional loan. Partner organisations have also raised the matter with you more recently, underscoring the urgency of finding a lasting solution. As no progress has been made since, resolving this matter has become even more urgent to prevent further deterioration of the broadcaster’s operations, independence and credibility. The European Commission’s 2025 Progress Report on Kosovo raises serious concerns, noting the lack of progress in establishing a sustainable and independent financing model for RTK, which continues to face “budget, property and human resources constraints, internal disputes and leadership instability.” It also warns that, without legislative action to secure stable funding and leadership appointments, RTK remains “vulnerable to political pressure and financial uncertainty”. This situation undermines the standards Kosovo has committed to uphold as it strives for membership in the Council of Europe and advances toward European Union accession. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1878 (2009) on the Funding of Public Service Broadcasting calls on states to “guarantee secure, adequate and transparent funding” as a prerequisite for independence and effectiveness. Likewise, Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) requires “adequate, stable and predictable funding” for public service media to ensure editorial and institutional autonomy. We therefore call on the Government of Kosovo to immediately release the funds owed to RTK so that salaries can be paid and the broadcaster can continue to operate. At the same time, we urge the Assembly of Kosovo, as it proceeds to constitute its parliamentary committees, to restore RTK’s legal governance structures and appoint the remaining Board members to ensure the election of a permanent Director General without delay. Taking these urgent measures would demonstrate Kosovo’s commitment to European values and to the media freedom standards expected of a future member of the Council of Europe and the European Union,” the letter notes. The letter was signed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), the International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters without borders (RsF), Association of European Journalists (AEJ), SafeJournalists Network, the Association of Journalists of Albania (AJA), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS), the Center Science and Innovation for Development, the Association of BH Journalists (BHJA), the Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA), the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM). 

Wesley Clark to begin his testimony at the Special Court on Monday (AP)

Retired US general Wesley Clark will begin his testimony in the trial against former KLA leaders in the Hague on November 17. His testimony is expected to last until Wednesday. Clark will testify as a witness in the defense of Hashim Thaci and his testimony will focus on his involvement and observations at the Rambouillet Conference, its consequences and the role of the Kosovo Liberation Army. 

Serbian Language Media

Djuric: Washington’s constructive role in the normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina is useful and necessary (Kosovo Online) 

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric said at the first regional Euronews Adria Summit, that Washington’s constructive engagement in the process of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina is both useful and necessary. However, he warned that in recent years this process has been made more difficult “due to unilateral actions by the Pristina authorities and an ongoing campaign of pressure against the Serbian community in Kosovo”.

“We are dealing with an establishment in Pristina that is not oriented toward dialogue with Belgrade and that seeks, through unilateral moves, to create a new political map,” Minister Djuric stated, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He added that Serbia expects clear signals from the international community that such actions are unacceptable.

Djuric underlined that it is of essential importance for Serbia to build regional relations on the principles of friendship, stability, and mutual trust.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3wwcv5ms

PM Macut: Serbia has met all technical requirements for EU membership, member states’ political decisions the only obstacle (N1, Beta)

Serbia’s Prime Minister Djuro Macut said the country is very close to joining the European Union (EU), but the final obstacle lies in the political decisions of EU member states.

“We have technically met every single condition for membership in every respect, but what remains is the decision by member countries to let us in,” Macut told the Western Balkans 2030 – A Turning Point for the Region conference at the Palace of Serbia.

Commenting on the European Commission’s latest progress report on Serbia, Macut acknowledged it could be read as criticism but stressed that Serbia has made “major strides” and accelerated reforms in recent months.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mwj5228p

Threats to Sarovic through social networks and messaging app because of the video with Vukasinovic (KiM radio, N1, KoSSev) 

The president of the "Love, faith, hope" movement, Nemanja Sarovic, announced on the social network X that he had received serious threats after the publication of a recording of a conversation with Milan Vukasinovic, a Serb from Leposavic who was allegedly recently seriously wounded under unexplained circumstances, reported KiM radio. 

The threats, as announced by the Movement, came from the Telegram channel "Corridor", which, this movement said that allegedly is known in public to be ''a channel close to the former vice-president of the Serbian List, Milan Radoicic", as well as from individuals on Instagram and Facebook social networks where the video was published. 

"Similar threats, also due to the publication of information about the wounding of Vukasinovic, were addressed to the lawyer Ivan Ninic. Sarovic pointed out that he believes that the threats are serious, especially considering that the threats made to Oliver Ivanovic and Milan Vukasinovic from the same or a similar place came true, and that they resulted in the death of Oliver Ivanovic and the serious wounding of Milan Vukašinović," the statement added.

In a video made on Vidovdan this year, Vukasinovic told Sarovic that he was afraid to move to the territory of central Serbia because of ''the threats he received, because he refused to leave the Kosovo institutions''.

Lawyer Ivan Ninic stated on the X social network that threats were sent to him in a group on ''the Telegram application called Corridor, which talked about the arrest of Milan Vukasinovic, recalled KiM radio.

T7 Talk Show cut short after heated exchange – Kosovo’s FM sparks outrage with remarks against media (KoSSev)

A live political debate on the popular talk show Pressing on the Pristina-based television channel T7 was abruptly interrupted two nights ago after a fierce verbal clash broke out between GUXO MP Nezir Kraki and journalist Parim Olluri. The argument, which quickly escalated into a shouting match, forced moderator Leonard Kerquki and other panelists to step in and end the show only minutes after it began, reported yesterday KoSSev.

The discussion had centered on allegations of vote fraud in South Mitrovica, following reports of irregularities during ballot counting. The Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica temporarily halted the process earlier this week after inconsistencies were found in serial numbers on several ballots.

Following an investigation, the Slovenian company CETIS, responsible for printing the ballots, confirmed that the discrepancies were due to a technical malfunction in one of its printers and denied any possibility of forgery. The prosecution then ordered the counting to continue.

Nevertheless, opposition parties LDK and PDK have demanded a repeat of the election in South Mitrovica, citing what they claim are “serious irregularities.”

PDK has since filed a formal complaint with the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP).

Heated exchange turns personal

During the Pressing debate, MP Kraki and journalist Olluri exchanged harsh words, including accusations of lying and references to the use of “Bulgarian train” — a term used for organized electoral fraud. The confrontation prompted immediate intervention by the moderator and other guests to prevent further escalation.

Minister Gërvalla reacts: “Thug TV, thug moderator, thug analyst”

Shortly after the incident, Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla, a member of Kraki’s GUXO movement, took to Facebook to defend her party colleague and attack T7 staff, using unusually strong language.

“Thug television. Thug moderator. Thug mercenary ‘analyst’. But with Prof. Nezir Kraki – it’s all in vain. You can’t do anything to him. Amid your filth, his knowledge and dignity shine. Damn you,” Gërvalla wrote.

Her outburst drew immediate criticism from the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK), which described the statement as a direct attack on media freedom.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3283fk7f

NUNS condemns dangerous words by Bratina (N1)

The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) condemned what it said was the dangerous rhetoric by cabinet Minister Boris Bratina.

“The NUNS strongly condemns a series of incidents that have hit the journalistic community in recent days: physical attacks on women journalists in Subotica, targeting in pro-government media, smear campaigns on social networks, as well as the dangerous rhetoric of the Minister of Information and Telecommunications Boris Bratina, which effectively amounts to announcing the shutdown of independent media,” a press release said.

The NUNS press release said that Bratina appeared on the pro-regime TV stations Informer and Pink blaming N1 and Nova S journalists “for a lot”, adding that the stations should not be on the air and announcing regulatory changes that would prevent their broadcasting in Serbia. He also labeled Radio Free Europe as “dangerous because of its anti-Serb programming”.

“Such statements constitute a direct attack on media freedom and an attempt to stifle pluralism. A minister in charge of information is expected to defend, not undermine, freedom of expression and information guaranteed by the Constitution. We call on Minister Bratina to immediately cease rhetoric that signals the strangling of media freedom and for the Ministry, as well as the Government of Serbia, to promptly adopt and implement the recommendations made by the European Commission in its latest report on Serbia”.

International Media

Kosovo’s Thaci didn’t make decisions in KLA, Hague Court hears (BIRN)

Former US diplomat Christopher Hill tells court that Hashim Thaci only had a political position within the KLA – and did not seem to have any decision-making powers.

In his three day testimony, former US diplomat Christopher Hill told the war-crimes trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three others in The Hague that Thaci was not a decision-maker in the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, but held a political position similar to that of a foreign minister. Meanwhile, the zone commanders lead the KLA General Staff.

On Tuesday, Hill told the court that, “I have no reason to believe that Mr Thaci was involved in such activities. I have no reason to believe, nor did I hear at the time, that he ordered such illegal activities.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/4v4t8bb9

Leader of Democratic Party of Kosovo, Memli Krasniqi, Steps Down (BIRN)

Memli Krasniqi, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, announced his resignation on Wednesday, four days after Kosovo held local elections and four months after he was re-elected in June for a second mandate at the party’s helm.

Citing the need for “reflection on the party’s future” as the reason for his resignation, Krasniqi said his decision to quit “was not spontaneous”.

He also played down any connection with the party’s results in the latest local elections, which saw the PDK losing control of two municipalities, South Mitrovica and Drenas/Glogovac, with the latter considered a traditional party stronghold. “It is the result of a longer reflection on what PDK needs in its next phase,” Krasniqi stated.

Krasniqi added that since he has no ambitions to run for prime minister, the party’s next leader “should also be its candidate for that position”

He said as party convention on November 17 will elect a new leader. “I am convinced the PDK’s candidate for prime minister should be Bedri Hamza, and if he decides to run for party chairman, he will have my full support,” he continued.

Under Krasniqi’s leadership, the PDK came second in the parliamentary elections on February 9, winning 24 seats in the 120-seat chamber, with Hamza as its candidate for prime minister. “It has been the greatest honour of my life to lead this party,” Krasniqi added.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/OsPvL