UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 4, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

KP: Case of kidnapping and injury of person reported in Leposaviq area (media)
KFOR on kidnapped Serb: We are aware, police have launched investigation and remain in close contact (media)
Osmani on kidnapping of Kosovo Serb: Democratic world must stop Serbia’s attacks (media)
Former Deputy Minister claims Radoicic’s group behind kidnapping of Kosovo Serb (media)
Svecla: Serbia continues its destabilizing actions against Kosovo, international community must react (media)
Osmani: KSF Special Unit, honor and pride of Kosovo (media)
Spiropali after visiting Thaci in The Hague: Liberation war cannot be defamed (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric receives new French Ambassador, discussed Kosovo as well (Tanjug, media)
Trial of Srdjan Lazovic from Leposavic continues, two more witnesses interviewed (RTS, KoSSev)
Kosovo police respond after lawyer sounds alarm over Serb’s shooting (KoSSev)
Kosovo police fined Lazar Djordjevic for driving with authorization while information campaign is underway (Kosovo Online)
CEC: Spasic’s withdrawal does not impact run-off mayoral elections in Klokot (media)
Serbian PM pays official visit to Shanghai, to meet with mayor, Chinese PM (Tanjug)
N1: Swedish Government suspending support for some Serbian public institutions

International Media:

Russian-controlled media flood Kosovo’s information space with disinformation (PrishtinaInsight)

Albanian Language Media

KP: Case of kidnapping and injury of person reported in Leposaviq area (media)

Kosovo Police reported that a victim, identified as MV, from Kosovo and of Serb nationality, is suspected of having been attacked and kidnapped within the territory of Kosovo by a group of Serbian gendarmerie. According to the official report, the incident is suspected to have occurred in an area called "ground zero", within the border area between Kosovo and Serbia, near Leposavic. Kosovo Police immediately notified KFOR, as the authority responsible for the border area, and has launched its investigations in cooperation with relevant institutions and justice bodies.

The Directorate for the Investigation of Serious Crimes has interviewed witnesses, who confirmed that several masked individuals had entered the territory of Kosovo, injured and kidnapped the victim, and then transported him to Serbia, taking him by ambulance to the city of Nis.

In consultation with the competent prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica, Department for Serious Crimes, the case has been initiated and investigations are continuing to fully elucidate the incident.

The Kosovo Police emphasizes that it remains committed to carrying out legal duties and in close cooperation with all security institutions for the protection of citizens and legal order.

KFOR on kidnapped Serb: We are aware, police have launched investigation and remain in close contact (media)

Following the wounding and kidnapping of a Serb within the territory of Kosovo, KFOR said it is aware of the case. KFOR stated that the Kosovo Police has opened an investigation and that they remain in close contact regarding the matter. “We are aware of these reports. The security situation along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) is calm. The Kosovo Police (KP) has launched an investigation and remains in close contact for this purpose with several entities, including KFOR. The KP has coordinated its respective activities on the Kosovo side of the ABL with KFOR,” KFOR’s response reads.

KFOR is responsible for maintaining security along the border line between Kosovo and Serbia.

Osmani on kidnapping of Kosovo Serb: Democratic world must stop Serbia’s attacks (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has called on the democratic world to react following the reported kidnapping of a Kosovo Serb by the Serbian Gendarmerie near the border, calling it yet another act of aggression by Serbia that threatens peace and stability in the region. Osmani stated that Serbia’s actions demonstrate a hegemonic approach, “targeting even Serb citizens who oppose President Aleksandar Vucic’s autocratic regime.”

“Serbia, which every day spreads propaganda and disinformation about the rights of Serbs in Kosovo, has wounded and then kidnapped a Kosovo Serb citizen. This is further proof of its hegemonic attitude, where every citizen who dares to speak the truth about Vucic’s autocratic regime is attacked and tortured in the most barbaric way,” Osmani wrote.

She urged the international community to act decisively to halt Serbia’s destabilizing behavior and appealed to Kosovo’s political actors to stand united. “The democratic world must react and stop these attacks by Serbia, which aim to endanger peace and stability in our region. Meanwhile, the political scene in Kosovo must act and speak with one voice in defense of Kosovo against such tendencies,” Osmani emphasized.

Former Deputy Minister claims Radoicic’s group behind kidnapping of Kosovo Serb (media)

Former Deputy Minister for Communities and Returns in Kosovo, Radoica Radomirovic, has claimed that he witnessed the kidnapping of Milan Vukasinovia, a Kosovo Serb, allegedly carried out by Milan Radoicic’s group near the border with Serbia.

In an interview with Betimi per Drejtesi (“Pledge for Justice”), Radomirovic said the incident took place on November 1in the village of Jelakce, in an area called Lokvica, when Vukasinovic went to buy honey from a man employed in the Serbian Army. He claimed that armed men dressed in black and green uniforms and wearing masks emerged from the forest and opened fire.

According to Radomirovic, Vukasinovic was wounded and then abducted by the group, allegedly led by Radoicic. He further stated that the victim was taken to Prokuplje Hospital in Serbia, where, despite being tied up, he managed to call his mother and inform her that he had been attacked in Kosovo and was being transferred to Nis Hospital.

Radomirovic said he later learned that Vukasinovic was in critical condition, had lost a kidney, and suffered serious injuries to his heart and spine. He also alleged that Radoicic was in Kosovo during the incident, accompanied by members of Serbia’s Military Security Agency, including an officer identified as “Sedlar.”

He claimed the abductors used three unmarked jeeps and that Serbian police in Prokuplje did not intervene. The director of the Nis Clinical Center, Zoran Perisic, allegedly ordered medical staff not to release any information about Vukasinovic’s condition.

Radomirovic insisted that the two men never crossed into Serbian territory and that Vukasinovic, an employee at the Jarinje border crossing for a Kosovo-based insurance company, has not visited Serbia since 2022. He also alleged that Radoicic had previously attempted to kill Vukasinovic in 2024 by placing explosives under his car.

Vukasinovic has reportedly shared the location of the incident with the Kosovo Police and given an official statement regarding the case.

Svecla: Serbia continues its destabilizing actions against Kosovo, international community must react (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla has reacted following suspicions that a Kosovo Serb was wounded and then abducted by the Serbian Gendarmerie inside the territory of Kosovo. In a Facebook post, Svecla stated that Serbia continues its destabilizing actions against Kosovo, openly violating its territorial integrity, this time in the Zone 0 area along the border, which, according to him, has a stronger KFOR presence.

“As part of its ongoing policy of intimidation and persecution against citizens who do not submit to Vucic’s regime, the Serbian Gendarmerie wounded, attempted to kill, and then abducted a citizen with the initials M.V., a citizen of the Republic of Kosovo,” the acting minister said.

Svecla emphasized that this represents yet another repeated and unpunished act by Serbia. He added that it is high time for the international community to react with clear and punitive measures against Serbia, to ensure that such hostile acts never happen again. “Two years ago, members of Serbia’s special units entered our territory and kidnapped three of our police officers. After that came the terrorist attack in Banjska. On the other hand, Serbia continues its policy of terror and violence against figures who oppose Aleksandar Vucic’s aggressive policies. This aggressive and provocative stance by Serbia is unacceptable. It constitutes a serious violation of our state borders and the rights of our citizens,” Svecla stated.

Osmani: KSF Special Unit, honor and pride of Kosovo (media)

Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani, has highly praised the Special Operations Unit of the Kosovo Security Force (FSK), emphasizing its training and preparation according to the doctrine of the U.S. Army. In a Facebook post, she stated that the KSF represents the pride, honor, and unbreakable heart of Kosovo. “Trained and prepared according to the doctrine of the United States Army, to defend the homeland at any moment and on every inch of our land, this is the Special Operations Unit of the KSF: the pride, the honor, and the unbreakable heart of Kosovo. They do not only wear the uniform of the state but also carry the legacy of our freedom!” Osmani wrote.

Spiropali after visiting Thaci in The Hague: Liberation war cannot be defamed (media)

Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Elisa Spiropali, has met with former President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci in The Hague. In a statement to the media, Spiropali said that she found Thaci in good health and following developments in both Kosovo and Albania. “At the detention center of the Special Court here in The Hague, I met President Thaci, and through him, I conveyed my greetings, as well as those of the Albanian Government, and I believe of the entire Albanian people, to the other three fighters: Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi,” she said.

“I was glad to find President Thaci in good condition. He was following developments in Albania and Kosovo, with the desire to see both our countries doing well,” Spiropali added.

Furthermore, Spiropali emphasized that the just war of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) cannot be stained or discredited, and as Foreign Minister, she reaffirmed the Albanian Government’s support for Thaci and the others. “I expressed the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Albanian Government, and Prime Minister Rama for a proper and fair process, one that, in the end, delivers historical justice, not historical injustice,” she stated.

The minister also expressed hope that Kosovo’s maturity in establishing the Special Court would not turn against it. “We sincerely hope that Kosovo’s state decision, the act of maturity in voting for the Specialized Chambers and the Special Court, will not turn against it,” Spiropali concluded.

Serbian Language Media

Djuric receives new French Ambassador, discussed Kosovo as well (Tanjug, media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric met with new French Ambassador to Belgrade Florence Ferrari on Monday, expressing belief that successful and constructive cooperation aimed at further advancement of Serbia-France relations would be continued during her tenure, Tanjug news agency report.

Wishing Ferrari success in her ambassadorial term, Djuric said a strategic partnership initiated nearly 15 years ago, intensive political dialogue helped greatly by regular meetings between Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Emmanuel Macron and other high-level meetings, as well as a continuous exchange of views on the most important views represented a testimony to the level of Serbia-France relations, and expressed the hope his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot would visit Serbia, too, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo, Djuric especially addressed the threats and challenges faced by Serbs there as a result of a series of unilateral moves by Pristina, and noted that security must be ensured to the Serb population, adding that commitments from agreements reached to date must be met.

Trial of Srdjan Lazovic from Leposavic continues, two more witnesses interviewed (RTS, KoSSev)

The trial of Srdjan Lazovic from Leposavic accused of allegedly committing war crimes in the Malisevo region continued yesterday by examination of two prosecution’s witnesses, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported. Answering questions of prosecutor, defence lawyer and the judge, witness Zeqir Bajrami said he does not recall giving the statement to the police in 2024, but that he spoke about the event with journalists. Upon being presented a copy from police reports, Bajrami confirmed it had his signature, but that he can’t remember signing it. He also said he suffers from memory loss, but nevertheless said he recognized Lazovic, 26 years after the event in the village of Panorce.

He described Lazovic as a person with long hair, adding he saw him in front of the school, but that he was not sure if the defendant beat him. Defense lawyers then presented the photo of accused Lazovic from that period, clearly showing that he had no long hair. The chairman then suspended the hearing, which continued in the afternoon. The other witness, also of Albanian ethnicity, said Lazovic did not exert violence against him.

Defence lawyer, Predrag Miljkovic following hearing of the witnesses, requested the court to remove Lazovic temporarily from the courtroom during the hearing of new witnesses, because there are circumstances indicating that, as he said, witnesses will not say the truth in the presence of the defendant.

He explained following the hearing that witnesses claim they know the defendant, describing him the way he looks now, and not how he looked back in 1998. “None of them provided a description (of Lazovic) from 1998. That is why we find our request justified”, he argued. According to him both witnesses confirmed the statements of defence, adding one said he does not know the defendant and the other one allegedly recognized him but that Lazovic took no action against him.

Kosovo police respond after lawyer sounds alarm over Serb’s shooting (KoSSev)

KoSSev portal wrote last night that it took two days for Kosovo police to issue a statement on a reported serious incident that allegedly occurred on the Kosovo side near the Jarinje crossing, in which a Kosovo Serb, M.V., was shot and abducted on Saturday afternoon. The statement was only released after Serbian lawyer Ivan Ninić publicly raised questions about whether Milan Vukašinović had been “literally executed” and whether doctors in the Clinical Center in Niš were fighting to save his life.

In their statement, Kosovo police said they had received information that in the Leposavic area, a person with the initials M.V., a Kosovo Serb, was reportedly wounded and kidnapped on Kosovo territory by what they described as members of the Serbian Gendarmerie.

They added that the alleged crime scene is believed to be within the territory of Kosovo, at a location known as ‘zero point (0),’ near Leposavic, between Kosovo and Serbia.

International Media

Russian-controlled media flood Kosovo’s information space with disinformation (PrishtinaInsight)

In the two months surrounding the October 12 elections, Kosovo’s media sphere has been inundated with more than 350 articles containing disinformation narratives published by Kremlin-controlled media outlets spreading disinformation and contaminating the information space during a politically sensitive period for the country.

An average of six articles per day were published by Kremlin-controlled media outlets in the two-month period around the October 12 elections in Kosovo, with the aim of polluting the Kosovan media space with narratives aligned with Russian propaganda goals.

Between September 1 and October 26, 2025, Kallxo.com’s fact checking platform ‘Krypometri’ monitored four major Russian state-controlled media outlets, covering the campaign period through to the publication of election results.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/24jwksc8