UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Gervalla to represent Kosovo at UN Security Council session (media)
Osmani congratulates Takaichi on becoming Prime Minister of Japan (media)
Kurti meets diaspora in London, calls on them to invest in Kosovo (AP)
Vetevendosje dominates race for mayors, PDK for municipal assemblies (Koha)
Brahimaj: We won’t join a government led by Kurti under any condition (media)
Remains suspected of being missing people from war found in Hajvali (RFE)
Two of six defendants plead guilty to hooliganism in the north (media)
Bajrami, Makovec discuss Kosovo moving forward in EU integration (media)
Kurti: VV upgrades status from observer to associated member at PES (media)
Report: “Serbian World”, Russia’s tool for influence in Kosovo and region (media)

Serbian Language Media:

UN Security Council to consider six-month report on Kosovo – debate on work of UNMIK and local elections (RTS)
What is in EP’s toughest-ever resolution on Serbia (N1)
Kosovo: Albanians can decide on mayor of Klokot, Serbs on mayor of Obilic (NMagazin, Beta)
Rewriting history “to fit the narrative”: How to prevent its misuse? (Kosovo Online)
Large quantity of rubbish disposed next to road leading to Draganac Monastery (KoSSev, social media)
Preliminary hearing held against six Serbs accused of unrest in 2021, two entered plea bargains (Kosovo Online)
Hearing in Banjska case adjourned over absence of witness (Radio KIM)
Vucic: EU Energy Council decisions not great, we will seek - and find - solution (Tanjug)

Opinion:

Securing our critical infrastructure (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

EU must act against legal bullying of Balkan journalists: media lawyer (BIRN)
Serbia, Hungary dismayed by EU decision to end Russian gas imports (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian:

CBK delegation concludes IMF-World Bank 2025 annual meetings (media)
Energy community’s CBAM readiness tracker: WB still far from exemption as full implementation nears (balkangreenenergynews.com)

Albanian Language Media

Gervalla to represent Kosovo at UN Security Council session (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla, will represent Kosovo at the United Nations Security Council session today. The session will discuss UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ report on developments in Kosovo. Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Gervalla will report on “the good work of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, the results, challenges and priorities of comprehensive reforms, especially in the rule of law, the economic performance and institutional strengthening”.

Osmani congratulates Takaichi on becoming Prime Minister of Japan (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani congratulated Sanae Takaichi on becoming the Prime Minister of Japan. “Kosovo deeply values its longstanding friendship with Japan, a steadfast ally of our people. We look forward to working with Prime Minister Takaichi to further strengthen and build upon our excellent cooperation across all areas of mutual interest,” Osmani said in a post on X.

Kurti meets diaspora in London, calls on them to invest in Kosovo (AP)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti, at the start of his visit in the United Kingdom, met with the Albanian diaspora in London and called on them to invest in Kosovo. He said that the partnership between Kosovo and the United Kingdom is built on cooperation in the areas of defense and security, economy and diplomacy, and that this relation contributes to peace, stability and well-being.

Kurti also said that Kosovo’s government is ready to further cooperation with the diaspora and enable new initiatives that would result in further economic development and bringing the diaspora closer to Kosovo.

Vetevendosje dominates race for mayors, PDK for municipal assemblies (Koha)

The news website reports that after the counting of majority of votes by mail for mayors and municipal assemblies in the October 12 local elections, it has been confirmed that the Vetevendosje Movement leads the overall race for mayors, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo leads in the race for municipal assemblies. Both parties have each won in three municipalities in the first round. Vetevendosje won in Kamenica, Podujeva, and Shtime, while the PDK won in Skenderaj, Ferizaj and Hani i Elezit. The Democratic League of Kosovo has won the municipalities of Istog and Lipjan in the first round, while the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo has won the municipality of Decan. Ramiz Lladrovci won in Drenas and NISMA won in Malisheva. The Serbian List has won nine Serb-majority municipalities in the first round.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo has managed to get over 186,000 votes for municipal assemblies, followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo with over 182,000 votes, the Vetevendosje Movement with 167,000 votes, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo with 86,000 votes.

There will be runoff elections in 18 municipalities on November 9.

Brahimaj: We won’t join government led by Kurti under any condition (media)

MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Lahi Brahimaj said today that this party would not join a government led by Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti under any condition. “The AAK maintains its position that we will not join a Kurti 3 government under any condition or price. If they don’t manage to secure the votes, the best solution would be elections,” Brahimaj said in an interview with RTV21.

Brahimaj argued that Kurti intentionally has not started talks with other political parties to form a new government. “He doesn’t have the numbers [votes] and he is not interested in forming a government,” he said.

Brahimaj also said that the AAK would prefer a government led by the former opposition. “It seems that in this respect too there is not enough readiness by all political parties. The AAK, as you know, has offered its vote for a government by the opposition without any condition or request to be part of the government,” he said.

Remains suspected of being missing people from war found in Hajvali (RFE)

Kosovo Police said today that its units, in coordination with the Forensics Institute and the Kosovo Government Committee for Missing Persons, carried out excavations in the village of Hajvali of Pristina on Monday, and found human remains believed to be of at least three missing persons from the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo. Police said the order was given by the Basic Court in Pristina and that the remains were taken for examination by the Forensics Institute. They also said that excavation work will continue in the next couple of days.

The news website notes that in 1998-99 around 13,000 people were killed and over 1,500 are still missing. The majority of those killed were Albanian civilians.

Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement in 2023 on a joint declaration for missing persons, in the EU-facilitated dialogue for the normalization of relations. Among the pledges made was full access to reliable information, including classified information, making available all documents that are important to resolve the fate of missing persons, and joint work through an EU-chaired committee. However, everything remains on paper, as none of the points of the declaration has been implemented.

Two of six defendants plead guilty to hooliganism in the north (media)

Nenad Milenkovic and Marko Rakic pleaded guilty to the criminal offenses of “Hooliganism” and “Participation in a Crowd.” The prosecutor of the case, Arberesha Shala, accepted the defendants’ plea. The Basic Court in Pristina approved the plea agreement, and the sentencing will take place on October 22. The other four defendants, Srecko Sofronijevic, Ilija Vicentijevic, Milan Vicentijevic, and Aleksandar Lazic, did not plead guilty.

According to the prosecution, there is well-founded suspicion that on October 13, 2021, the defendants intentionally took part in crowds of more than dozens of people gathered in North Mitrovica, the number of whom fluctuated depending on their movements, and attacked members of Kosovo Police and Customs with stones, wooden and metal rods, as well as hand grenades, thereby causing general danger.

According to the indictment, the defendants ambushed the police at the scene by setting up barricades, while police armored vehicles were hit by gunfire and hand grenades. As a result, Kosovo Police officers B.A., E.V., and S.A. suffered bodily injuries. On the same day, defendants Ilija Vicentijevic, Milan Vicentijevic, and Marko Rakic, in the “Berxhane” neighborhood, allegedly attacked police and customs officers using gas canisters and firearms directed at them and their official vehicles. The crowd then moved toward the pharmacy, where police officers M.M., Xh.M., A.R., B.Sh., and A.m. were injured and damage exceeding 20,000 euros caused.

Bajrami, Makovec discuss Kosovo moving forward in EU integration (media)

Kosovo’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, EU and NATO, Agron Bajrami, said in a post on X that he had a good meeting and exchange with Marko Makovec, head of cabinet of Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos. “Discussed the potential of Kosova moving forward in the EU integration process, as well as short, medium and long-term objectives - membership being the strategic and achievable goal,” Bajrami said.

Kurti: VV upgrades status from observer to associated member at PES (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, said in a post on X that this party has upgraded its status at the Party of European Socialists from observer to associated member, during the second day of the PES Congress in Amsterdam. “Our movement is part of a united family that seeks to strengthen common determination to build a secure and protective democratic Europe, which also requires a peaceful Western Balkans region. During our mandate as a government in the last four years, we have continued to design and develop progressive policies. We remain engaged in writing the story of renewed social-democratic thinking and acting for the benefit of all European citizens,” he said.

Report: “Serbian World”, Russia’s tool for influence in Kosovo and region (media)

Several news websites cover a report by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia highlighting that the “Serbian World” project “has been identified as one of the key instruments through which Russia, in cooperation with the Serbian political elite, is trying to restore influence in the Balkans, with special emphasis on Kosovo”.

The report notes that “the Serbian Orthodox Church, paramilitary groups and political leaders are used as instruments to advance this agenda”, and it also talks about the dire situation in Serbia and Vucic regime’s oppression on the citizens of Serbia.

According to the report, after defeats in the wars of the 1990s and the declaration of Kosovo’s independence, Belgrade, with direct support from Moscow, resorted to the ideology of the state project now known as the “Serbian World”. This approach represents a new form of revising history and uses the use of means such as controlling the media, education, cultural institutions, but also spiritual ties with Serbian communities in the region.

The report criticizes the West for tolerating these developments, arguing that efforts to bring Serbia closer to Euro-Atlantic structures were often made by ignoring Serbia’s destabilizing role in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia. “This policy strengthened the authoritarian regime of Aleksandar Vucic and led to increased interference by Belgrade in the domestic affairs of other countries”.

The report also notes that “the Serbian Orthodox Church has become one of the most important actors in efforts to increase Serbian-Russian influence in the region, especially in Kosovo. An example of this involvement was the meeting between Serbian Patriarch Porfirije with Russian President Vladimir Putin in April 2025 in Moscow. During the meeting, Porfirije said that the position of the Church on Kosovo, Montenegro and Republika Srpska depends on Russia’s geopolitical position, adding that the Church wishes to be ‘close to the Russian world’ if a global reorganization were to take place”.

Serbian Language Media

UN Security Council to consider six-month report on Kosovo – debate on work of UNMIK and local elections (RTS)

Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) reported today that the United Nations Security Council will consider the six-month report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the work of UNMIK at today's session. The report states that no progress has been made in the past six months, especially in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Foreign Minister Marko Djuric will represent Serbia.

The report will be presented by UNMIK Deputy Head Milbert Shin, given that the previous head of the mission, Caroline Ziadeh, ended her mandate at the end of August.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric is expected to address all the problems and challenges that Serbs have faced in the past six months – before and after the local elections, reported RTS.

According to media reports, the report will emphasize that there has been almost no progress in the past six months, especially when it comes to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, which is being conducted under the auspices of the European Union and the EU Special Envoy for the Dialogue, Peter Sorensen. Both sides are called to restraint and a reduction in tensions, with the assessment that they are still very high in Kosovo.

RTS recalled that the question of the future and purpose of the UNMIK Mission, whose presence is gradually being reduced, was raised six months ago. Great Britain and Denmark support such an approach, while Russia strongly opposes the abolition of the mission and insists that UNMIK remain present in Kosovo without a time limit.

The Security Council is expected to adopt a presidential statement that will reportedly call on both sides to continue dialogue and refrain from tensions and provocations.

According to RTS, Minister Djuric will also hold a series of important meetings with senior US officials during his stay in New York.

What is in EP’s toughest-ever resolution on Serbia (N1)

The European Parliament’s resolution on Serbia, crafted with input from all parliamentary groups, has been finalized and is set to be its most hard-hitting yet, reported N1.

N1’s European correspondent reports that the resolution is “unprecedented in its sharpness”. The European Parliament is making its stance crystal clear, taking things a step further than ever before. N1 has learned that the European People’s Party once again tried to soften parts of the text but failed - the report remains critical. N1’s correspondent reveals key excerpts from the Resolution.

“The document strongly backs students, their demands, and their protests. Above all, it emphasizes the demand for elections, and calls on the government to implement democratic reforms.” “The resolution plans to explicitly condemn state-sponsored violence.”

“The European Parliament firmly denounces the use of a sound cannon against peaceful protesters, and says it is citing credible sources and demanding a thorough investigation into all details.”

According to N1’s correspondent, the document “explicitly states that political leaders are responsible for escalating tensions, repression, normalizing violence, and weakening institutions”.

The Parliament will condemn the torture of students, stressing the need to investigate the role of senior officers of the Unit for the Protection of Designated Persons and Facilities (JZO), with particular focus on Marko Kricak, said N1’s correspondent. The resolution names Tomislav Momirovic and Goran Vesic; the EP points to them as responsible for budgetary damage. It also calls for halting funds from the Growth Plan until critical reforms are implemented, and demands sanctions against specific individuals.

Kosovo: Albanians can decide on mayor of Klokot, Serbs on mayor of Obilic (NMagazin, Beta)

In the second round of elections in Kosovo, the role of minority communities in Klokot and Obilic is expected to be decisive, reported Beta agency yesterday.

In Klokot, Arber Emini, the only Albanian candidate, could decide the winner between the two Serbian candidates, while Serbian List (SL) could play a similar role in the second round in Obilic, where Xhafer Gashi from LDK and Halil Thaci from Self-Determination will face each other. The results of the elections held on October 12 led both municipalities to the second round.

Arber Emini, an independent candidate and also the only Albanian in the race for mayor of Klokot, won 24 percent of the vote, i.e., a total of 518 votes. In front of him are two Serbian candidates: Srecko Spasic from the party "Srpska Narodna Sloga" (Serbian National Unity) with 31 percent or 673 votes and Bozidar Dejanovic from the Serbian List, who took first place with 41 percent or 883 votes. The difference between the first-placed Dejanovic and the second-placed Spasic is 210 votes, while Emini's 518 votes may be decisive in the second round. In a statement to koha.net, Emini excluded the possibility of inviting his voters to vote for one of the candidates, because, as he said, "they are both the same". He also complained about irregularities which, according to him, damaged his candidacy.

"I did not accept and will not accept these results, and I am not a factor in the decision, because I will not commit to any candidate. I requested a repeat of the election due to the interference of Serbia and illegal Serbian structures in the election process in Klokot. For me, Serbian List and SNS are the same, 2 in 1. Everything is in the hands of Radoicic and Vucic", said Emini.

On election day, the police arrested a woman on suspicion of issuing false medical reports in order to provide assistance during voting. Emini believes that the issuance of false reports from "parallel health institutions" damaged his votes. After the final results were announced by the Central Election Commission, he announced an appeal to the Election Panel for Petitions and Appeals with a request to annul and repeat the elections in Klokot.

In the municipality of Obilic, where Xhafer Gashi from the LDK and Halil Thaci from the Self-Determination Movement will face each other in the second round, the Serbian List could play a decisive role. In the first round, Gashi won 5,827 votes, while Thaci had 252 votes less. The Serbian List's candidate for mayor, Goran Dancetovic, took third place with 604 votes, while that party won 1,140 votes in the elections for the Municipal Assembly. Self-Determination candidate Thaci accused the current mayor Gashi of making a deal with Serbian List, adding that any possibility of his party's coalition with SL is ruled out.

"We do not form coalitions; we do not hold meetings with them. We are convinced that the victory in Obilic belongs to the Albanian citizens who will bring about changes. We are the winners in these elections, we are the winners with the votes of the Albanians, we have over 350 votes more than the Democratic Alliance. But the LDK, the so-called Democratic League under whose banner this mayor is running, has an agreement with the Serbian List'', Thaci said.

Gashi, however, rejected Thaci's claims. "What Mr. Thaci said is incorrect, I only have a coalition with citizens", he said. Beta recalled Gashi won the race for mayor of Obilic as an independent candidate in the local elections in 2021 and then joined LDK.

Rewriting history “to fit the narrative”: How to prevent its misuse? (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Online portal reported in English, speaking to various experts, that for more than two decades, there has been a continuous pattern of renaming Serbian cultural heritage as Albanian. Therefore, finding the Patriarchate of Pec labeled on Google Maps in Albanian as an Albanian monastery is not surprising - though it is both shameful and absurd. According to the experts, this is not about facts but “about perfidy - a form of special warfare, manipulation, and the deliberate rewriting of history”.

A cemetery in Vitina where only Orthodox Serbs are buried appeared three years ago on Google Maps labeled as an “Albanian Orthodox Cemetery.”

For years, the authorities in Pristina have been declaring “certain Serbian Orthodox churches as Catholic”, while diplomats have taken the liberty of referring to medieval Serbian monasteries as “Kosovo’s cultural heritage”.

According to Kosovo Online, just ten days ago, the Patriarchate of Pec—the spiritual seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the resting place of Serbian archbishops and patriarchs—was labeled in the Albanian version of Google Maps as an Albanian Orthodox monastery.

On this occasion, Serbia’s Minister of Culture Nikola Selakovic sent an appeal to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, warning of the grave danger looming over the cultural heritage of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4r4pt5rs

Large quantity of rubbish disposed next to road leading to Draganac Monastery (KoSSev, social media)

At only 500 meters away from Serbian Orthodox Church Draganac Monastery a large quantity of rubbish had been disposed of next to the road leading to it, the brotherhood of the Monastery said in a post on Instagram, KoSSev portal reported.

It is yet another one of the many examples of such kind, the brotherhood said. “With God’s help we shall continue carrying about the nature in the vicinity of the Monastery, despite incomprehensible behavior of individuals”, reads the post of Draganac Monastery along with published photos on their Instagram account.

The post did not say if the case was reported, although it has already occurred in the past. Previously, the brotherhood reported the cases to the police, but without success in thwarting such practice. Draganac Monastery is located in Pomoravlje region and is one of the most significant and most active SOC monasteries in this part of Kosovo. It became known for its summer schools for young people, educational workshops for people in that region, as well as for a large number of pilgrims from diaspora and region visiting it.

Preliminary hearing held against six Serbs accused of unrest in 2021, two entered plea bargains (Kosovo Online)

A preliminary hearing in the case of six Serbs, accused of allegedly taking part in unrest in Zvecan and Mitrovica North in 2021 was held today in Pristina. Srecko Sofronijevic, who was shot by Kosovo police in his house yard in Zvecan at that time, is also among defendants, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Sofronijevic and other defendants, Ilija Vicentijevic, Milan Vicentijevic, Marko Rakic, Nenad Miljkovic and Aleksandar Lazic received indictment today. Sofronijevic, Rakic and both Vicentijevic pleaded not guilty, while Miljkovic and Lazic entered a plea bargain. They also expressed regret over events that happened on that day. Their case will be separated from the case of four others.

Lawyer: Instead of launching proceedings against persons wounding Sofronijevic, he became defendant

Defense lawyer of Srecko Sofronijevic, Nebojsa Vlajic said he does not understand why this case is treated at the level of criminal act.

Recalling events from the protests that happened in Mitrovica North and Zvecan in 2021, for which six Serbs are accused Vlajic said that luckily during these protests there were no severe consequences, adding he does not understand why this case is not treated as misdemeanour case if there are evidence against defendants.

“(…) I do not know why this is raised at the level of criminal act, I think the prosecutor overreacted. I would like to remind him that during these events, one of the defendants was wounded with firearms. Instead of initiating proceedings against persons responsible for that, he is sitting at defendants’ row now”, Vlajic said. He added today’s hearing was of technical nature, adding defense will file an appeal to indictment.

Srecko Sofronijevic was arrested on April 13, last year at Brnjak crossing point while he travelled with his family to central Serbia. He was released pending trial on July 24 of the same year. Kosovo police said back then Sofronijevic was accused of criminal acts he allegedly committed in 2021, including “aggravated murder attempt, assault on official persons, possession and unlawful possession of weapons, calling for resistance and participation in unrest”.

Serbian media reported back in 2021 that Sofronijevic was wounded by members of Kosovo special police on October 13, 2021, at Rudare settlement in his yard, after police raided the pharmacy in Mitrovica North and protests spread. Several protesters were also injured back then. Sofronijevic was admitted in serious condition in Mitrovica North Clinical Hospital Centre and underwent surgery during which a bullet was recovered from his body. He continued medical treatment at the Emergency Centre in Belgrade and returned to his home town Zvecan upon recovery.

Hearing in Banjska case adjourned over absence of witness (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)

The hearing in the case of three Serbs, defendants in the Banjska case, Blagoje Spasojevic, Vladimir Tolic and Dusan Maksimovic was adjourned over the absence of prosecution witness D.A., Radio KIM reports today.

D.A. who was supposed to testify today, did not come to the hearing, and the judge noted that her father accepted the summons for her to appear, as she is currently in Serbia. The new hearing will take place on October 27, when a witness from North Macedonia will also be heard.

Yesterday, in a hearing closed to the public as per request of prosecution, a protected witness of the prosecution was interviewed at the Basic Court in Pristina.

Vucic: EU Energy Council decisions not great, we will seek - and find - solution (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday in Budapest the EU Energy Council's decisions to phase out Russian oil and gas imports were "not great" and that he had discussed the consequences with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and noted that, even though Serbia was in a difficult situation, it would seek - and find - a solution and that people needed not worry.

"Even if we build everything (new gas interconnectors), I do not know how we can get so much gas unless it is Russian, and even if we do all that, the question arises of how we will compensate for a price that will be 30-40 pct higher", Vucic told reporters after a meeting with Orban, adding that the issue of oil and gas also affected electricity supplies in Serbia.

He said that, after an October 23 holiday in Hungary, Orban would visit Brussels, where new decisions were due to be made.

Opinion

Securing our critical infrastructure (Kosovo 2.0)

By Shqipe Neziri Vela and Krenar Kepuska.

Cyber Challenges in Kosovo’s Energy Sector

When the lights go out, it is rarely just an inconvenience. For a country, it can mean hospitals paralyzed, water systems disabled and entire communities left in the dark. Around the world, energy systems have become the frontline of cyber conflict, targeted not only by criminals but also by state-backed actors seeking to exploit weaknesses.

To date, there have been no publicly reported cyberattacks targeting Kosovo’s critical infrastructure. Yet the threat is neither abstract nor distant. In November 2024, a powerful explosion occurred in a water canal in Zubin Potok, disrupting the supply to two coal-fired power plants that together produce more than 90% of the country’s electricity. Though the attack was physical, its impact exposed how easily one strike could cripple the nation’s energy security. It also triggered fears of what a coordinated cyberattack might look like, silent, invisible and potentially far more devastating.

As Kosovo modernizes its energy system, it is introducing smart grids — electricity networks that utilize digital technologies, sensors and real-time data to enhance reliability, efficiency and flexibility. These digital upgrades also create new entry points for cyberattacks. While smarter systems help address long-standing challenges such as outages, inefficiencies and limited control, they also increase cyber risks, necessitating robust cybersecurity safeguards.

Much of Kosovo’s power grid was built decades ago, and upgrading this aging infrastructure without robust cybersecurity measures could leave critical systems exposed to serious threats. The transition from analog systems to smart grids significantly broadens the cybersecurity risk landscape, and Kosovo remains particularly vulnerable as it lacks a dedicated and comprehensive strategy to safeguard the cybersecurity and resilience of its essential energy infrastructure. Strengthening the capacities of energy regulators and operators is therefore urgent.

Regulators must be equipped to set and enforce cybersecurity standards, while operators require the expertise and tools to detect, prevent and respond effectively to threats. Without these investments, the benefits of smart grids and renewable integration risk being overshadowed by growing cyber vulnerabilities. Although strengthening cybersecurity is likely to increase system costs, it is essential for ensuring the reliability and resilience of Kosovo’s energy infrastructure. Ultimately, the costs of inaction –– service disruptions, financial losses and erosion of public trust - would be far greater.