UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 3, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo’s EU progress stalled by political deadlock and internal divisions (RFE)
Murati: Failure to form parliamentary committees blocking RTK’s budget (media)
Bajrami: No budget support, Kurti’s opposition role would be an honor (media)
AVONET files lawsuit against caretaker government (media)
AKM expresses deep concern over Kurti’s statements (media)
Salihu: Prime Minister can’t legally assess municipal performance (media)
Jashari and Ulutas discuss security situation in Kosovo and region (media)
Spiropali to visit Thaci in The Hague (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Srecko Spasic from Serbian People’s Unity withdraws from second round of mayoral elections in Klokot, joins Serbian List (KoSSev)
Trial of Srdjan Lazovic continues in Pristina today (Kosovo Online)
Serbs from Kosovo continue walking on foot to Novi Sad (RTS, Tanjug)
Marta Kos: Novi Sad tragedy is changing Serbia, people stand up for responsibility, freedom of expression and inclusive democracy (N1)
Serbian Ministry of Culture high official suspected in case linked to Jared Kushner’s Belgrade project (N1)

Opinion:

Marinkovic on ‘sensitive’ documents: ''This is not about crime, but about chauvinism'' (KoSSev, KiM radio)
Bewitched electoral games (KoSSev)

International:

Kosovo justice system still grappling with impact of Serb resignations (Balkan Insight)
Swiss trial begins of two men on Kosovo-linked terror charges (swissinfo.ch)
Dozens arrested in Serbia as Govt supporters and protesters clash (Balkan Insight)
Serbia’s president offers to bring forward election after huge protests (Financial Times)

Humanitarian:

OSCE documentary highlights importance of prosecuting criminal acts against journalists in Kosovo (Radio KIM, Radio Kontakt plus)

Albanian Language Media

Kosovo’s EU progress stalled by political deadlock and internal divisions (RFE)

Kosovo’s progress on its European Union agenda has been hampered by divisive domestic politics and political deadlock following the February 9 parliamentary elections, despite maintaining strong commitment to its European path and high public support. This is stated in the draft version of the European Commission’s 2024 Progress Report on Kosovo, according to Radio Free Europe.

The draft notes that Kosovo has voluntarily aligned its foreign policy with that of the EU, a move described as a clear signal of commitment to EU values and “highly welcomed” by Brussels. It also mentions that the European Commission has begun taking initial steps toward gradually lifting the punitive measures imposed on Kosovo in summer 2023, after the EU concluded that Prishtina had failed to prevent violent unrest in the Serb-majority north. “Further steps will depend on continued de-escalation in the north. The Commission intends to lift financial measures once there is a regular transfer of local governance following the recent elections,” the draft states.

The report also addresses the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, urging both parties to implement all obligations from the 2023 Agreement on Normalisation and its Implementation Annex. Kosovo is encouraged to ensure long-term access to basic public services for all communities, consistent with its dialogue obligations that began in 2011.

Murati: Failure to form parliamentary committees blocking RTK’s budget (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Finance Minister Hekuran Murati stated that all that is needed for the execution of RTK’s budget is the decision of the Parliamentary Budget Committee. According to him, once that decision is made, the State Treasury executes the transfer of funds within the same day. “However, PDK and LDK are refusing to establish parliamentary committees, and as a result, they are leaving RTK, the municipalities of Prishtina, Gjilan, and Zubin Potok without a budget, while also risking the approval of the 2026 budget. The argument that parliamentary committees cannot be formed because it is still unclear who is in the governing majority and who is in opposition does not hold,” Murati wrote on Facebook.

He stated that the Assembly can initially form only the permanent committees: for Budget, Legislation, European Integration, and Community Rights. “These committees would be sufficient to review all urgent matters, such as the budget and the EU Growth Plan. As for the other committees, which by formula belong to the opposition, as well as those overseeing the respective executive ministries, they can be formed once there is a fully empowered government and it is clear who is in the majority and who is in opposition,” he said.

According to Murati, until then, temporary solutions could be implemented to overcome the deadlock. “Political will is only needed from PDK, LDK, and AAK,” Murati added.

Bajrami: No budget support, Kurti’s opposition role would be an honor (media)

LDK deputy leader Hykmete Bajrami stated that her party will not support the draft budget proposed by Albin Kurti’s government, stressing that Kosovo faces a political deadlock and is headed toward new elections.

“We will not vote for such a budget — the country will go to elections because there is no other solution. This decision will not pass, because it will not pass in the Assembly of Kosovo,” Bajrami declared.

She added that Albin Kurti did not have 61 votes to become prime minister on October 26, and therefore, his government has no legitimacy to approve the budget.

Bajrami also emphasized that LDK did not seek the votes of the Serb List, noting that any government formed that way would be short-lived and unstable.

She further stated that Kurti “does not change” and that his departure from power would be the greatest honor done to the country.

“Albin Kurti does not change, he is unchangeable. LDK must make every effort to achieve a good result in the elections and become part of a governing coalition with 80 votes, one capable of electing the president and forming a government without Albin Kurti,” Bajrami said on Debat Plus on RTV Dukagjini.

Bajrami stressed that the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex are “the greatest political damages” Albin Kurti has caused to the country.

“I believe that Kurti’s removal from power, his move to the opposition, would be the greatest honor done to the country. The Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex are colossal political damages that Albin Kurti has inflicted,” she stated.

AVONET files lawsuit against caretaker government (media)

The Network of Non-Governmental Organizations AVONET has announced that today it will file a lawsuit with the Basic Court in Prishtina against the decision of the caretaker government to approve the draft law on budget allocations for 2026. According to the press release, along with the lawsuit, AVONET will also submit a request for a temporary injunction to suspend the implementation of the decision until the court issues a ruling.

According to the announcement, the purpose of the lawsuit is to ensure compliance with the Constitution of Kosovo, the Law on the Government, and the principles of separation of powers and the rule of law.

AKM expresses deep concern over Kurti’s statements (media)

The Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM) has issued a strong reaction following comments made by Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, who said he “would not give money to mayors who don’t know how to work or who steal.”

In a press statement, the AKM Board expressed regret and deep concern over what it described as “offensive and prejudicial language” toward mayors freely elected by the citizens of Kosovo. “Mr. Kurti’s statement represents not only a direct insult to the mayors but also a violation of the fundamental principles of institutional equality and local self-government,” the AKM said in its reaction.

The Association stressed that no mayor has been indicted for theft since the 2021 local elections, while reminding that at the central level, there are officials under indictment, including ministers and deputy ministers. “Such factually unfounded generalizations damage the image of local government and erode citizens’ trust in municipal institutions,” the AKM added.

The statement also recalled that in the first round of this year’s local elections, people elected mayors from all political parties, including from Vetëvendosje (VV), raising the question of whether Kurti’s remarks also apply to those from his own party.

The AKM emphasized that budget allocation for municipalities is regulated by law and should not be used for political or electoral purposes, accusing the central government of often directing capital investments based on party interests rather than legal criteria. “Public funds belong to the citizens and are distributed to municipalities according to the laws in force, not according to political or ethnic preferences. They must be allocated based on clear, equal, and transparent criteria,” the statement said.

In conclusion, the Association of Kosovo Municipalities called for institutional respect, constructive dialogue, and cooperation between different levels of government to strengthen local democracy and uphold the European Charter of Local Self-Government. “Local government does not seek privileges, but the respect of the law and equal treatment for all municipalities, regardless of political or ethnic affiliation,” the statement concluded.

Salihu: Prime Minister can’t legally assess municipal performance (media)

Bekim Salihu, a policy analyst at the GAP Institute, reacted to recent statements by caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti, emphasizing that the head of the executive has no legal authority to assess the performance of municipalities or to allocate budgets based on personal preferences.

According to Salihu, the language used by the Prime Minister undermines municipal autonomy, creating the false impression that municipalities are dependent on the central government. He highlighted that such an approach exceeds the Prime Minister’s constitutional mandate, as it “assumes the role of investigator and prosecutor,” instead of promoting institutional cooperation. “This approach is not collaborative or supportive; on the contrary, it fosters division and dissatisfaction,” Salihu wrote.

Referring to official data, the GAP analyst stated that municipalities have performed better than the central government in almost all areas, including capital investments, procurement contract management, and financial transparency. According to him, the results clearly show that local governments are achieving higher standards of governance, and political interventions from the central level risk harming this performance.

Jashari and Ulutas discuss security situation in Kosovo and region (media)

The Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Bashkim Jashari, met today with the Commander of KFOR, Ozkan Ulutas. The two discussed the security situation in Kosovo and the region, as well as the development of the KSF. “General Jashari initially welcomed Major General Ulutas and congratulated him on his appointment as KFOR Commander, wishing him success in this important role. During the meeting, they discussed recent developments within the Kosovo Security Force, including training, exercises, challenges, operations, and other activities. They also talked about the current local and regional security situation, as well as the common challenges they face,” the KSF statement reads.

It was also noted that Jashari and Ulutas discussed the ongoing cooperation between the KSF and KFOR, emphasizing the importance of further strengthening this partnership, which, according to the Force, will contribute to enhancing peace and security both in Kosovo and across the region.

Spiropali to visit Thaci in The Hague (media)

Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Elisa Spiropali, has arrived in The Hague, the Netherlands, for an official visit. Spiropali will be received by the Dutch Foreign Minister, David van Weel, with whom she will sign a joint declaration aimed at strengthening the partnership between the two countries, particularly in the context of supporting Albania’s European integration process.

Later today, Minister Spiropali will visit former President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, at the Detention Centre of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

Additionally, she will deliver an open lecture at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, speaking with students and academics of the European Studies Program about Albania’s ongoing commitments to uphold European standards.

Serbian Language Media

Srecko Spasic from Serbian People’s Unity withdraws from second round of mayoral elections in Klokot, joins Serbian List (KoSSev)

Srecko Spasic from Serbian People’s Unity party in Klokot along with all members and councillors has joined the Serbian List today. Spasic also announced that he withdrew from the second round of mayoral elections in Klokot, KoSSev portal reported citing statement of the Serbian List.

Klokot was the only Serbian municipality that will go for the second round of mayoral elections, among 18 other municipalities across Kosovo.

According to CEC results of the first mayoral elections round in Klokot, Serbian List candidate Bozidar Dejanovic won 883 votes, Srecko Spasic from Serbian People’s Unity won 673 votes, while Albanian candidate Arber Emini won 518 votes.

“On behalf of the Civil Initiative Serbian People’s Unity, we wish to give our contribution to Serbian unity and with all our resources join the Serbian List, a political family which unites Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”, reads the statement.

Srecko Spasic also announced withdrawal from mayoral race in this municipality, adding he invests all his strength and energy, along with members of the Serbian People’s Unity for the victory of the Serbian List under candidacy number 170 in local mayoral elections in Klokot.

Serbian List welcomed his decision, terming it as an act “of maturity and responsibility” and called on others to follow this example.

Trial of Srdjan Lazovic continues in Pristina today (Kosovo Online)

The trial of Srdjan Lazovic, from Leposavic, accused of allegedly committing war crimes in the Mallisevo region in 1999 continued today at the Basic Court in Pristina, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The first witness of the prosecution Z.B. said he was interviewed about the case by plainclothes police officers, but he does not remember if he signed the statement. He also said he was in his village in 1999. He said that upon entering the village Serbian army and police left women and elderly but took some men to the school in the village. He claimed he was dragged by shoulder and taken to a different room, where he was beaten up. He stayed in the school for one day and a night.

He also said he did not know who the people inside the school were, in reference to Serbian army and police members, but added that “he recognized Srdjan as he was in front of the school, where they gathered them again”. Four more witnesses of prosecution will be interviewed today.

Lazovic was arrested on June 27, 2024 at Jarinje crossing point, he regularly used to commute from Leposavic to his working place. He remains in detention ever since arrest. At the previous hearing he pleaded not guilty to the charges he is accused of.

Serbs from Kosovo continue walking on foot to Novi Sad (RTS, Tanjug)

A group of Serbs from Kosovo, who set on foot to Novi Sad to attend the gathering opposing blockades, continued their route from Ljig to Lazarevac, today, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported.

As RTS further reported they were welcomed at Ljig last night and continued their journey this morning. They said they wanted to convey the message of unity and support to the Serbian state and President Aleksandar Vucic, adding that “Serbia must not stop”.

The group setting off on foot from Rudnica, near Raska includes Serbs from central Kosovo – Gracanica, Kosovo Polje and other areas, those from Pomoravlje region including Gornje Kusce, Straza, Ranilug and Partes as well as those from northern Kosovo including Leposavic, Mitrovica North, Zubin Potok and Zvecan.

Marta Kos: Novi Sad tragedy is changing Serbia, people stand up for responsibility, freedom of expression and inclusive democracy (N1)

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said that last year’s Novi Sad railway station tragedy, which claimed 16 lives, “is changing Serbia,” emphasising that people are calling for values rooted in accountability, freedom of expression, and inclusive democracy, the same principles guiding Serbia toward EU membership, N1 reported.

“One year ago, the railway station in Novi Sad collapsed, taking 16 lives. We remember them”, Kos wrote on X. “That tragedy is changing Serbia. It mobilised people to stand up for responsibility, freedom of expression, and inclusive democracy; the same values that lead Serbia toward the EU”, she added.

Her message was shared by the EU Delegation to Serbia, which also issued a statement expressing its “deepest condolences and sincere solidarity” with the families and loved ones of the 16 victims. The statement was signed by the embassies of all EU member states in Serbia, except Hungary, according to N1.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/u7qbr

Opinion

Marinkovic on ‘sensitive’ documents: ''This is not about crime, but about chauvinism'' (KoSSev, KiM radio)

Miodrag Marinkovic from the Center for Affirmative Social Actions (CASA) told KoSSev portal that if the municipality of North Mitrovica, as they claim, acted according to the law and performed its duty in the interest of the citizens, what is sensitive about those decisions?

''Personally, I think they are not talking about violations of the law, but about decisions that reveal the true nature of this government - that it was a political service of the Self-Determination Movement and their ethnocentric policies,'' opined Marinkovic.

He commented on the statements of the outgoing local Albanian officials, who said that they were worried about handing over self-government and "sensitive documents" to the new incoming government, made up of Serbs.

KoSSev recalled that these statements on their dilemma to leave the documents to the Serbs, along with consideration to take them out of the municipalities, were given by the officials of four municipalities in the North, first of all for Pristina based Koha.

In their response to Koha, Kosovo officials, including former heads of municipalities in the North, expressed concern that the documents, according to them, could be misused. As stated, they are "waiting for instructions" from the Kosovo government on how to handle "sensitive" municipal documentation before handing over the duties to mayors from the Serbian List.

Nedzad Ugljanin, the outgoing president of the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, repeated the same at the end of last week.

In his address to councilors at the regular session, Ugljanin said that the previous structures had left the municipality "in chaos and anarchy", adding that he was "afraid to hand it over to the new authorities".

"As far as running the municipality is concerned, they are at the level of preschoolers," said Ugljanin, referring to the incoming local authorities.

If everything is legal, what is sensitive?

The statements of outgoing officials and the mayors about the need to hide sensitive documents are worrying the least for Marinkovic, and he is sure that, as he says, they are not in accordance with the regulations. Therefore, he asks:

"If, as they claim, the municipality acted according to the law and performed its duties in the interest of the citizens, what is sensitive about those decisions?".

He personally believes that they are not talking about violations of the law, but about decisions that reveal the true nature of this government, which is:

"That it was a political service of the Self-Determination Movement and their ethnocentric policy, which, after PM Kurti's statements, no longer has to be guessed, openly strives to abolish the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo and unite it with Albania."

Maybe, after the arrival of the Serbian authorities, Marinkovic continues, documents will surface that show:

"That the municipality paid its workers to visit cafes and restaurants in the north run by Kosovo Albanians and that they interpreted this as the municipality's discretionary right to decide on the distribution of funds."

''So, I believe that this is not about crime, but about chauvinism''.

Marinkovic also believes that there are many similar examples and therefore traces in the documents that "facilitated such an obvious discriminatory policy."

"I hope that in the coming period, in accordance with the democratic principles of transparency, we will get a complete insight into how the outgoing authorities really managed the municipality," he said.

They are desperate because they know that this kind of opportunity will not happen again

In this context, he continues, it is important to understand one more thing.

"We are witnessing an obvious and open despair at the end of the era in which the Kosovo Albanians, with only three percent of the votes, actually governed the Serbian municipalities. The outgoing mayors and officials are aware that such an opportunity will probably never happen again, and they are unable to hide their disappointment," Marinkovic told KoSSev.

Their statements, however, reveal something deeper:

"The inability to accept the principles of their own system and democratic organization, as well as the desire for decisions on local government to continue to be made in Pristina, and not by the citizens of those municipalities. So that's exactly what we see at the central level. Democracy has become an obstacle to national dreams."

Their desperation clearly shows, he adds, how important local self-governments are in the dynamics of inter-ethnic relations in Kosovo.

At the same time, on the other hand, within this framework it became visible and the perniciousness of the boycott policy by Serbian political representatives, which was an open gift to the government of Albin Kurti.

"That strategy was so wrong that it's hard to say whether it was intentional or the result of complete political dilettantism. I'm not sure which of those two possibilities is more disturbing to me, especially because now in Serbian municipalities those who came up with such an idea will hold power."

Marinkovic doubts that the new government will take over the self-governments before the second half of December

When asked when takeover of the power in local governments could be expected, Marinkovic explained that it should happen 15 days after the Central Election Commission confirms the official results.

"The law does not prescribe a fixed deadline in which the CEC must confirm the final results, because it largely depends on the processing of possible appeals. In municipalities where there was no second round, the CEC can confirm the results earlier than in those where the second round is held, but this is more a matter of practice than a mandatory procedure," he specifies.

However, considering the current political climate, it is possible to expect that the CEC, a body that he believes is certainly not immune to political pressures and calculations - "will use all legal opportunities to postpone the constitution of municipal assemblies and the confirmation of the mayors' mandate".

He doesn't expect it to happen before the second half of December, which in this climate is an eternity, Marinkovic said.

"Personally, I do not expect this process to end before the second half of December. Considering the political course of the outgoing municipal bodies, which in the previous period served more as an extended arm of the Self-Determination movement than as a service to citizens, these few weeks of procedures and deadlines will seem like an eternity."

Bewitched electoral games (KoSSev)

By Ilir Deda

“Dear Saša,

Reading your question about elections and CHOICE reminded me of myself when I deeply believed it was worth committing to and working toward a CHOICE that, in my view, would mean a huge leap toward the present day – and toward modern politics and values, whatever that meant at the time. And then I realized and accepted that I was profoundly mistaken. Unlike Kosovo back then, the main driving force today is defiance.

But defiance is almost always against the future, so we will very soon see which direction Kosovo is heading in.

Most likely, new parliamentary elections will be held in December.

To your question, “Did a real choice happen?” I would say that the moment Kosovo is in now requires a clearer direction.

If the results are the same as on February 9, then it seems we are heading toward the Bulgarian scenario – endless parliamentary elections until there is a clear majority. That is the worst possible outcome, and I hope this lost year has made a portion of citizens more aware, encouraging them to vote in larger numbers for change, even if the parties advocating change are not fully to their liking.

And while Kosovo is preoccupied with itself, I would very much like to hear your view on some signs of change in the region.

The most striking change is clearly in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The agreement between Milorad Dodik and the U.S. administration appears to be multilayered – a return to constitutional functioning for BiH, an end to undermining the state, the preservation of existing entity rights, unblocking the European path, and dropping the obstruction of NATO membership.

We have already seen the reward in the lifting of sanctions against Dodik and his broad circle of associates and business entities.

What do you think of this change? Is this a sign of a complete return under the American umbrella – which, in my opinion, is exactly where our entire region should be? And can it work in the long term?”

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yucs5d3c

International

Kosovo justice system still grappling with impact of Serb resignations (Balkan Insight)

Judicial authorities in Kosovo say Serb judges and prosecutors who resigned en masse in 2022 are welcome to return, but will it require a political agreement between Belgrade and Pristina?

Nikola Kabasic did not resign of his own free will.

“We were pushed to do it,” he said, recalling the day three years ago that he and the other 20 Serb judges of the North Mitrovica Basic Court quit en masse. “It was a very intense atmosphere,” he said.

It wasn’t just the judges who resigned. Ten prosecutors followed suit, as did 154 admin staff at the court, along with four Serb judges on the Court of Appeals in the north Kosovo town. The pressure, said Kabasic, was “political”.

In November 2022, Serb MPs, four mayors in the north and a host of police officers left their jobs in the Kosovo public sector, in protest at the government’s failure to establish an association of Serb-majority municipalities that would have greater local autonomy under a European Union-mediated deal between Serbia and its former southern province.

Their frustration was heightened by a decision taken in the capital, Pristina, to force Serb drivers to accept Kosovo-issued licence plates on their cars, rather than those issued in Serbia.

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

Swiss trial begins of two men on Kosovo-linked terror charges (swissinfo.ch)

Two men from the Balkans will appear before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona today, charged with supporting and participating in an extremist group that had planned to destabilise a region of Kosovo.

The two accused are a 37-year-old Kosovar and a 34-year-old dual national of Switzerland and Macedonia. Based in the Geneva region, they were arrested in September 2022 after lengthy surveillance and have been languishing in prison ever since.

The charges brought by the office of the Attorney-General are serious: participation in, and support for, a terrorist organisation, bribery of foreign public officials, money laundering, obstruction of criminal proceedings, forgery of documents and fraud by trade, among others. The two men are presumed innocent.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3e4akbv8

Dozens arrested in Serbia as Govt supporters and protesters clash (Balkan Insight)

A day after a huge commemorative rally in Novi Sad, clashes between ruling party supporters and protesters erupted in front of parliament, resulting in 37 arrests.

Serbian police arrested 37 people in Belgrade on Sunday night following clashes between supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, and their opponents in front of parliament, where SNS supporters have erected a tent camp.

On Monday, the Interior Ministry said police had arrested people who were “disturbing public order and causing incidents during an unregistered public gathering” in front of parliament. The phrase “unregistered public gathering” is an expression used by officials in Serbia for all the anti-government protests that have been held since the Novi Sad railway station disaster last November, which caused the deaths of 16 people.

The tensions erupted around noon on Sunday when police prevented Dijana Hrka, whose son died in the Novi Sad disaster, from coming to the parliament building where she planned to start a hunger strike.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/53bzzbn2

Serbia’s president offers to bring forward election after huge protests (Financial Times)

Aleksandar Vučić makes concession after year-long demonstrations against his regime

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has offered to bring forward parliamentary elections due in two years, in an apparent concession to widespread anti-government protests that took place over the weekend. “Elections will be held before the end of the term” in December 2027, Vučić said in a news conference late Sunday. “The exact timing will be decided by the competent institutions.” Tens of thousands of Serbs took to the streets over the weekend to call for snap parliamentary elections over what they perceive as a corrupt and increasingly authoritarian regime.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4kuw9a7d

Humanitarian/Development

OSCE documentary highlights importance of prosecuting criminal acts against journalists in Kosovo (Radio KIM, Radio Kontakt plus)

OSCE Mission in Kosovo launched a documentary titled Beyond the Headlines highlighting growing threats faced by media professionals and calling for urgent need for stronger institutional protection, Radio KIM reported on Sunday.

The documentary released on the occasion of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists was produced in co-operation with local journalists and examines rising cases of online harassment, smear campaigns and physical assaults.

OSCE said in a statement that since January of this year 56 incidents against journalists have been reported, already exceeding last year’s total. Women journalists remain especially vulnerable to gender-based threats and harassment.

“The rise in attacks and online harassment, especially against women journalists, is deeply concerning and unacceptable”, said Gerard McGurk, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. “Greater, more sustained efforts are needed to ensure journalists can work safely and independently”, he added.

The Chairperson of the Kosovo Association of Journalists Xhemajl Rexha, noted that the last four years have been the most difficult for journalism in Kosovo, citing intensified attacks and lenient penalties that embolden perpetrators.

“The situation for journalists in Kosovo is worsening, with a worrying culture of impunity”, said Jan Braathu, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. “Authorities must recognize the essential role journalists play in democracy and act decisively to ensure their safety”, he added.