Albanian Language Media: 

• Police suspect bomb threat came from a phone number in Serbia (media)
• Kurti: Bomb threat to Assembly, Serbia's hybrid attack (media)
• Svecla: Threat linked to profiles displaying photo of criminal Mladic (media) 
• Dehari considers secret ballot constitutional, opposition reacts (media)
• Cakolli: VV’s insistence on secret ballot is procedural manipulation (Klan)
• Construction of bridges over Iber expected to be completed by fall this year (RTK)
• Vlajic admits he recruited OSCE worker in BIA, gathered information also from other international organisations (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• El-Anani: If elected, I will be Serbia’s voice in UNESCO; Serbian Orthodox heritage in Kosovo is global treasure (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• OSCE expressed concern over third unauthorized intrusion into Serbian Orthodox Church in Podujevo (KoSSev)
• Elek: SL launches petition today against construction of bridge over Ibar (RTS) 
• CoE Commissioner for Human Rights: Authorities in Serbia should refrain from excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests (Beta, N1, Danas)

International Media: 

• Film Recalling Horror of Wartime Prison Massacre Shown in Kosovo (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media 

Police suspect bomb threat came from a phone number in Serbia (media)

The Kosovo Police has announced that investigations are continuing into the case of the bomb threat that occurred on Friday at the Kosovo Assembly building. According to official information from the Kosovo Police, the threats are suspected to have come from a phone number that may have originated in Serbia.

“Regarding the case of the bomb threat that occurred today in the early hours of the morning at the state-owned RKS building, the Kosovo Police, in cooperation and coordination with security institutions, has continued intensive investigations, with the aim of shedding light on and detecting the threat.

Based on the investigations so far, it is suspected that the threats came from a phone number that is suspected to be from Serbia.

The police, in cooperation with the competent prosecution, will continue further investigations, taking all investigative measures, including communications with international security partners, to locate the means and communication networks used in this threat,” reads the Kosovo Police communique.

Kurti: Bomb threat to Assembly, Serbia's hybrid attack (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti has written in a post on Facebook, that the confirmation that the bomb threat originated in Serbia proves once again Serbia's active hybrid war against Kosovo. "I congratulate state institutions for the quick and professional response," he wrote.

The police have said that they will continue the investigation and will take measures, including communications with international security partners, to locate the means and communication networks used in this threat.

The Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina, Zejnullah Gashi, revealed details about the operation. He announced that the bomb threat was made through a phone call from a person with a male voice, who, as he said, spoke English with an accent typical of individuals from non-friendly countries to Kosovo. Regarding this call, Gashi said that cybercrime teams have also been engaged and that the investigations will continue.

Svecla: Threat linked to profiles displaying photo of criminal Mladic (media) 

Caretaker Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla provided additional details about the people who could have been behind the threat to the Kosovo Assembly.  “On 05.07.2025, a bomb threat was addressed to the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo. The relevant security institutions have treated this hybrid attack against Kosovo institutions, which has been confirmed to have originated in Serbia, with high priority. The phone number from which the threat was made is registered in Serbia and belongs to the MTS telephone company,” Svecla’s Facebook post reads.

"The user of the number was or is the Serbian citizen Lazar Živković. On several profiles linked to this number, a photo of the war criminal Ratko Mladić was found. Kosovo's institutions are treating the case as a high priority and will seek international support for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the threat, as soon as possible. The attackers and those issuing threats who are sheltered in Serbia, regardless of support from the Serbian state, will not be able to evade responsibility."

On Saturday, the Parliament was threatened through a phone call, with elected members of parliament being forced to immediately leave the building, where it was suspected that there might be a bomb threat.

Dehari considers secret ballot constitutional, opposition reacts (media)

The chair of the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly, Avni Dehari, has provided some clarifications on why he proposed a secret ballot, stating that it is not in contradiction with the ruling of the Constitutional Court and the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. "Point 178 of the ruling states that neither the Constitution nor the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly specify whether the voting method in the constitutive session should be open or secret, and that procedural motions do not apply to the constitutive session. Article 57 of the Rules of Procedure does not apply to the constitutive session, but only to plenary sessions and only under certain circumstances explicitly mentioned in the Rules," he said. “Therefore, it would be a violation to ask the MPs whether they are in favor of a secret ballot or not,” said Dehari.

A vote in favor, against, or an abstention on the commission for the secret ballot means expressing the MPs’ will regarding the voting method, he said. “Normatively, one method of voting does not carry more weight or value than the other. MPs' refusal to vote for the commission is a refusal to carry out the secret ballot — in other words, a refusal to exercise a right guaranteed by the ruling of the Constitutional Court,” Dehari wrote on the social network Facebook.

However, following his statement, reactions came from MPs and representatives of opposition political parties, accusing him of misinterpreting the Constitutional Court’s ruling regarding the voting method for the constitution of the Assembly.

Cakolli: VV’s insistence on secret ballot is procedural manipulation (Klan)

Eugen Cakolli from the Democratic Institute of Kosovo said that it has become meaningless how many times members of the Vetevendosje Movement say that secret ballot for the election of the Speaker of the Assembly is not illegal. In a Facebook post, he said that the Assembly has still not entered into the voting procedure, precisely because of the attempts to switch to secret ballot. 

“Yes, it is true that the candidate proposed by LVV has failed 6 times in open voting. But, on the other hand, FULLY 34 other times the Assembly has still not entered into the voting procedure, precisely because of the attempts to switch to secret voting. These attempts, not that they have not produced results, but they are neither legitimate nor constitutional”.

‘Secondly, it should be recalled that the Speaker has no discretion or authority to change the voting method during the session. The voting method, although as a standard it is open, can be a matter of discussion and decision-making only at the preparatory meeting called by the former Speaker and the parliamentary groups, which this time was held on April 8. This cannot be bypassed or replaced with unilateral and arbitrary decisions during the session,” Cakolli said.

He added that insisting on a secret ballot and selling it as a “solution,” is not only contradictory, but also procedural manipulation. Cakolli noted that instead of this manipulation, the Chairman himself and the party to which he belongs should return to the principles of consensus and political compromise, respecting decisions taken collectively.

Construction of bridges over Ibar River expected to be completed by fall this year (RTK)

While the caretaker government of Kosovo has started work on the construction of two new bridges over the Ibar River, one for vehicles and another for pedestrians, planned to be built by the fall of this year, people in the south and north of Mitrovica express different opinions about this project. Some of them welcome this initiative of the government and others say that the budget is being spent in vain.

“I think it’s good, I think something should be done better, more beautiful, and the roads that are being built are good, something should be built, something should look good. After Pristina, Mitrovica is the main city in Kosovo. With the bridge open, the citizens get to know each other better,” said an inhabitant from Mitrovica North.

“I can’t say anything, they (the government) are doing whatever they want. But it’s not a bad thing, the bridges unite us first. Second, if the bridges are closed, we also close the cooperation between the citizens,” said another inhabitant from the north. 

Meanwhile, people in the south of Mitrovica say that these projects are also useful for the people in the north. “We hope they will be successful. These bridges belong to all the people who live here, a bridge for Kosovo,” an inhabitant said.

“This is a very good job if two bridges are built, better for the citizens of South Mitrovica and North,” said another from the south.

Vlajic admits he recruited OSCE worker in BIA, gathered information also from other international organisations (media)

Aleksandar Vlajic, the first individual convicted of espionage in Kosovo since independence, has admitted to recruiting an OSCE employee for the Serbian Intelligence Agency (BIA). He used multiple phone numbers to communicate covertly and received sensitive documents from the OSCE employee, which were forwarded to BIA. He also collected intelligence from EULEX, UNMIK, and KFOR via Serb insiders. The indictment links Vlajic to violent rhetoric and knowledge of armed groups and explosives in northern Kosovo. Basic Court in Pristina sentenced Vlajic on June 5, 2025 to five years in prison.

Serbian Language Media

El-Anani: If elected, I will be Serbia’s voice in UNESCO; Serbian Orthodox heritage in Kosovo is global treasure (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

Candidate for Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Khaled El-Anani, stated that if elected, he will be a voice for Serbia within UNESCO. He emphasized that he is fully aware of the deep concern of the Serbian people regarding the fate of medieval Serbian heritage sites in Kosovo, which are on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger and recognized as treasures of humanity.

“You ask whether I would be Serbia’s voice in UNESCO if I become Director-General. My answer is yes—without hesitation—because I want to be a voice for every member state, ensuring that UNESCO remains a place where every voice matters, regardless of the country’s size or economic power. Serbia is important for its culture, history, and its role in the Balkans, as well as for its long-standing engagement in UNESCO,” El-Anani said in an interview with Tanjug.

His candidacy, proudly supported by Egypt, is also officially backed by the African Union, the League of Arab States, Serbia, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, and Slovakia.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/5czyebu2

OSCE expressed concern over third unauthorized intrusion into Serbian Orthodox Church in Podujevo (KoSSev)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has expressed concern following yet another unauthorized entry by Nikola Xhufka into the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Archangel Michael near Podujevë/Podujevo, marking the third such incident, reported KoSSev on Friday.

“Recognized religious communities must be able to exercise their rights freely,” the Mission stated, and called on law enforcement authorities and the judiciary to act swiftly, to investigate thoroughly, and prevent further intrusions. “Respect for religious rights and the rule of law is key to protecting Kosovo’s cultural and religious heritage,” the OSCE emphasized.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3ntpd542

Elek: SL launches petition today against construction of bridge over Ibar (RTS) 

Regarding Pristina's announcement on building new bridges over Ibar for pedestrians and vehicles, the president of Serbian List Zlatan Elek emphasizes that Serbs oppose such a decision, because the bridge will not be a symbol of unity, but of discord and separation.

He announced that the SL is launching a petition against the construction of the bridge, which citizens will be able to sign starting today, in front of the party office, reported RTS.

CoE Commissioner for Human Rights: Authorities in Serbia should refrain from excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests (Beta, N1, Danas)

Council of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty voiced concern about the current human rights situation in Serbia, where, despite the assurances he says he received from the authorities during his visit in April, “excessive use of force is being applied to curb demonstrations,” the CoE said on Friday.

“The past days have seen increasing civic unrest, with blockades organized by protesters across Serbia, following a largely peaceful demonstration on Saturday 28 June in Belgrade,” says the press release.

“Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are key human rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and it is Serbia’s duty to guarantee them. Peaceful demonstrations are legitimate tools for civil society to show discontent, including with the political situation, and should be protected,” said the Commissioner.

“Increased levels of the use of force by the police as well as arbitrary arrests and detention have occurred during the week,” he noted. “I am particularly concerned about the arrest of children, as well as the number of students being charged for criminal offences or hospitalized for the treatment of injuries,” said O’Flaherty.

The Commissioner considers that the use of batons, tear gas, stun grenades and, in general, the use of force by police against protesters in order to remove blockades, “may fail to meet the requirements of necessity and proportionality as enshrined in international human rights law.”

During his recent visit, the Commissioner had already raised concerns over the stigmatization of demonstrators, which continues in the current context, with the labeling of students as terrorists and hooligans and accusations that they are attempting a “color revolution”.

“Such a mischaracterization of this largely peaceful student-led movement should be avoided at all costs” the Commissioner said. O’Flaherty finds it unacceptable that the four individuals who were on trial for causing serious bodily injuries to two students last January have now been granted a pardon.

“I call on the authorities to investigate all acts of violence, including those perpetrated by law enforcement, and ensure that there is no impunity for such acts. Maintenance of public order should be ensured always within a framework for democratic policing, where the protection of human rights lies at its heart,” he said.

International Media 

Film Recalling Horror of Wartime Prison Massacre Shown in Kosovo (BIRN)

A documentary on the Dubrava prison massacre in Kosovo in May 1999, including harrowing testimonies from survivors, witnesses, and activists, was screened on Thursday evening at BIRN’s Reporting House venue in Pristina.

The film Shadow of the War features Gent Nushi, then 17, who was arrested days after NATO launched air strikes against Yugoslav army targets in March 1999 in the western Kosovo town of Gjakove/Djakovica and who was transferred to Dubrava prison.

“I was a hostage in the prison,” Nushi said, recalling that he was held in Dubrava and in prisons in Serbia for more than two years without any indictment.

Shadow of the War explores one of the darkest chapters in Kosovo’s recent history – and the ongoing struggle for justice and reconciliation in a post-conflict society.

Eki Rrahmani, co-director of the documentary, blamed local and international institutions for failing to investigate the case.

“The documentary is a protest against the silence from locals but more from internationals. A silence I could not understand, looking from the outside,” Rrahmani said after the screening.

“Many [war] crimes occurred in Kosovo but this one would be very easy to address. The hierarchy [of those responsible] is very clear. Names are known who ordered, who signed – survivors know the names of the [prison] guards and even the cleaners,” he added.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/ky7Ts