UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 6, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo Presidency reacts to Vucic’s war statements (media)
Rutte demands accountability from Vucic about attacks on KFOR (RTK)
Western Balkan leaders gather in Durres for Brdo-Brioni Summit (media)
Musliu: Serbia training Russian paramilitaries, similar to Radoicic's group (RTK)
CEC: Voting process on October 12 to take place in 948 voting centers (media)
Ahmeti warns of instability in Balkans if KLA leaders get convicted (media)
Ex-policeman who was arrested by Serbian forces in 2023 passes away (media)
Remittances from diaspora in 2024 reached €1.3 billion (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: We will open 400 new jobs in healthcare in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
Djuric: Serbs must teach Kurti’s regime a lesson in the local elections (Kosovo Online, Politika)
Serbian MFA: Osmani’s statement an attempt to divert attention from the persecution of Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, Blic, RTS)
Mark Brnovich blames “deep state” for not being appointed US ambassador to Serbia (N1, RTS, Blic, media)
Suspicious explosive device found near the children's playground in Laplje Selo (KiM radio, KoSSev, Media Center Caglavica)
Serbs in the villages of Kamenica four days without electricity (Kontakt plus radio, Radio Mitrovica sever, Medija Center Caglavica, RTS)
CoE Human Rights Commissioner address Serbian NGOs’ concerns over Kosovo’s Foreigners Law (KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
Stuart Munsch and his associates visited the Visoki Decani monastery (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)
Kurti: “With Faton Peci leading South Mitrovica, the entire North will breathe differently” (KoSSev)
SD candidate from Leposavic questioned by police after repairing benches in Serbian colors (KoSSev)
Vucic: I expect a partially objective report on Kosovo at the UN (Radio Mitrovica sever)

International Media:

Torture weapons are being used on Europe's streets to put down protests (EUobserver)

Albanian Language Media

Kosovo Presidency reacts to Vucic’s war statements (media)

The Presidency of Kosovo has strongly reacted to the statement made by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, a day earlier saying that "everyone is preparing for war" and that Kosovo is "trying to use this pre-war time" to convince most European countries and NATO members to take Pristina’s side. In its response, the Presidency states that Vucic’s reckless calls for war are a dangerous echo of the darkest chapters of recent history. "Despite years of tireless American and European efforts to pave the way for lasting peace, Vucic is showing the world that he has not chosen the path of reconciliation. Instead of turning the page, Vucic and his regime are once again flirting with the same destructive fantasies that once took thousands of innocent lives."

According to the Kosovo Presidency, this scenario has been seen before, during the time of Milosevic, who chose genocidal war as his last desperate means to hold on to power. "He exercised inhuman violence in Croatia, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally in Kosovo, all carefully documented for the world to see. Through his propaganda machine, with Vucic as the head of propaganda, he ignited hatred that led to systematic killings, mass graves, destruction, and Serbia’s deepest isolation. His rule ended in disgrace: overthrown by his own people, tried as a war criminal, and remembered as the man who drove his nation to ruin and as the butcher of the Balkans," the Presidency's response continues.

The reaction further states that "Vucic seems to believe he can revive the same poisonous formula: incite conflict, endanger lives, and believe that bloodshed will keep him in power."

According to the Presidency, just as Milosevic failed, so will Vucic. "History is clear and unforgiving. Milosevic failed, and Vucic will fail too. War is not a tool of leadership. It is the last refuge of leaders who have lost legitimacy, who cannot inspire with vision, and who see no way forward except through destruction. Kosovo, on the other hand, has chosen peace. Peace, which we will defend at all costs," the Kosovo Presidency concludes in response to the Serbian president Vucic’s statements.

Rutte demands accountability from Vucic about attacks on KFOR (RTK)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has announced that he held a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Copenhagen. “It was a pleasure to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Copenhagen. We discussed NATO-Serbia cooperation, as well as the importance of accountability for the attacks on KFOR and the violence in Banjska,” Rutte wrote on X platform.

Western Balkan leaders gather in Durres for Brdo-Brioni Summit (media)

Leaders from the Western Balkans are meeting today in Durres, Albania, for the annual Brdo-Brioni Summit, focusing on the region's EU integration and the implementation of the EU Growth Plan, a €6 billion financial package set for 2024–2027.

Organized by the presidents of Slovenia and Croatia, and chaired by Albanian President Bajram Begaj, the summit is held under the theme: “Shared Interests, Joint Commitment for a Common Future: Together Towards the EU.”

Confirmed participants include top leaders from all six Western Balkan countries: Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among them are Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

One of the key points of the discussions is the EU’s Growth Plan, which aims to integrate the region into the EU single market and speed up reforms. The funds will be distributed among the countries as follows: Serbia: €1.5 billion; Albania: €920 million; Bosnia and Herzegovina: €900 million (10% reduction due to delays); Kosovo: €880 million; North Macedonia: €750 million; Montenegro: €380 million.

The summit also reinforces regional cooperation, political stability, and the EU’s commitment to enlargement as a strategic priority. The Brdo-Brioni process, launched in 2013, continues to serve as a key platform for advancing dialogue and European aspirations in the region.

Musliu: Serbia training Russian paramilitaries, similar to Radoicic's group (RTK)

The founder of the “Octopus” Institute, Agim Musliu, has accused Serbia of becoming an operational center for Russia’s destabilization efforts in Europe and the Balkans. “Serbia has become a territory where Russia, with the infrastructure provided by Belgrade, freely trains paramilitary groups to destabilize European democracies. Could this happen without the approval of Serbian institutions? Of course not,” Musliu wrote in a pos† on Facebook.

According to him, Belgrade is knowingly allowing and supporting these activities, as Serbia itself is acting similarly in the region by forming and arming armed groups, like the one led by Milan Radoicic. “Serbia is a strategic partner of Russia in the most dangerous projects aimed at destabilizing Europe and our region, turning itself into the main link of Russian influence in the Balkans,” Musliu emphasized.

CEC: Voting process on October 12 to take place in 948 voting centers (media)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced that Kosovo’s local elections will take place on Sunday, October 12, across 948 Voting Centers and 2,625 polling stations. Voters will elect mayors and municipal assembly members in all 38 municipalities. In preparation, the CEC has launched a nationwide training program for over 15,000 members of Polling Station Councils, focusing on procedures for voting, counting, conditional voting, and support for persons with special needs.

The CEC has officially appointed 14,305 council members for 2,571 regular polling stations and 54 for conditional voting, while 1,200 reserve members will be on standby for election day. In addition, the CEC has accredited 521 observers from 26 organizations, including NGOs, international bodies, and diplomatic missions, to monitor the electoral process. Authorities emphasize that all logistics and personnel preparations are on track to ensure a fair and smooth electoral process.

Ahmeti warns of instability in Balkans if KLA leaders get convicted (media)

Ali Ahmeti, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) in North Macedonia, warned again that there will be instability in the Balkans if the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the Hague are convicted. He said that Thaci and the others must be free. “A fair decision must be made, taking into account all the circumstances of how the Kosovo Liberation Army operated. They must be free, and I am certain that they will be free,” he argued in an interview with Klan Kosova.

Ahmeti said that a potential decision to declare the KLA leaders guilty “would not be good and would not serve peace, stability and security. I think that no one will be able to control certain groups and certain people”.

Ex policeman who was arrested by Serbian forces in 2023 passes away (media)

Most news websites reported on Sunday evening that Shemsi Mustafa, a former officer of the Kosovo Police who was kidnapped by Serbian forces in 2023 along the boundary with Kosovo, has passed away. The kidnapping of Mustafa and another two police officers had triggered major reactions at the time.

Remittances from diaspora in 2024 reached €1.3 billion (Express)

The news website cites a report published by the Kosovo Agency for Statistics which notes that remittances from the diaspora to Kosovo in 2024 totaled €1.3 billion. The data was taken from the Central Bank of Kosovo. The report notes that since 2014 when remittances were €622.3 million, they constantly increased and surpassed €1 billion for the first time in 2021. The report also notes that the annual inflation in 2024 was 1.6 percent compared to 4.9 percent in 2023. The highest inflation rate in the last ten years was in 2022 when it totaled 11.6 percent.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: We will open 400 new jobs in healthcare in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic announced this evening that 400 new jobs will be created within the healthcare system in Kosovo in the next ten days. He also emphasized that Serbia must not fall for Albin Kurti’s provocations, as Kurti wants to lure Serbia into a trap before a potential global conflict breaks out.

Speaking on TV Pink, Vucic stressed the importance of maintaining peace, though he acknowledged that this is difficult given Kurti’s actions on the ground.

In this context, he mentioned the Law on Foreigners, which, he said, puts Serbs in Kosovo in a dreadful position.

“I would like to tell the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija that we will stand by them and will always take care of them,” Vucic underlined.

He announced that 400 new jobs will be opened in the healthcare system in Kosovo in the next ten days.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/46rjfx63

Djuric: Serbs must teach Kurti’s regime a lesson in the local elections (Kosovo Online, Politika)

The local elections in Kosovo on October 12 are an opportunity for Serbs in the north to “regain control over the municipalities with a Serbian majority and to prevent the regime of Albin Kurti from taking over municipalities with a Serbian majority in the south of the province”, said Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, calling on Serbs to go to the polls and “teach Kurti’s regime a lesson", reported Kosovo Online in English.

“These elections are of vital importance for the survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. Therefore, taking part in them is both a national and patriotic duty of every citizen — and a family obligation for anyone who wants to see their basic interests and those of their family protected. I am firmly convinced that Kurti does not want the Serbs to vote on October 12 — he wants them to stay home, allowing people like Hetemi and Atiqi to retain control. That’s why we must go to the polls, to teach Kurti’s regime a lesson in Serbian defiance, unity, solidarity, and love for our homeland,” Djuric said in an interview for Politika yesterday.

He added that he often points out to European partners that the attitude of certain countries toward Kosovo is “not the best advertisement for the European project.”

When asked whether, in the event of EU enlargement, he sees Serbia “on that train,” Djuric said that the European Union is a “beautiful idea” that needs to evolve politically, economically, and in terms of security in order to meet the continent’s needs.

“I am completely certain that the Union cannot be successful unless it becomes truly united — and that includes the membership of Serbia and other countries in the region,” he emphasized.

Read more at: https://shorturl.fm/3S6IV

Mark Brnovich blames “deep state” for not being appointed US ambassador to Serbia (N1, RTS, Blic, media)

Mark Brnovich, whose nomination for US ambassador to Serbia was withdrawn, stated that the “deep state” did not want his nomination.

“I want to thank the president (Donald Trump) for the nomination, but as the process dragged on, it became clear that bureaucrats of the ‘deep state’ do not want someone of my political, ethnic, and religious background to serve in Serbia. I believe staying close to family and friends in Arizona and finding opportunities to play a larger role domestically is the best path at this time,” Brnovich told Serbian Times.

Trump nominated Brnovich, a Republican and former state prosecutor and Senate candidate from Arizona, in late March. Although the nomination reached the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Brnovich did not appear before the committee.

The Trump administration formally withdrew Brnovic’s nomination on Friday. The reasons were not disclosed. The US did not have an ambassador in Belgrade since January, when Christopher Hill left the position.

Suspicious explosive device found near the children's playground in Laplje Selo (KiM radio, KoSSev, Media Center Caglavica)

An explosive device was allegedly found near a children's playground near residential buildings in Laplje Selo yesterday, the media learned from a resident of one of the buildings, KiM radio reported.

According to the locals, the Kosovo Police was present at the scene almost the whole day, and the part of the field where, as suspected, an explosive device was located, was secured with yellow tape.

KiM radio reported that Members of KFOR and the KSF also arrived on the field in the meantime. According to KiM radio’s report published last night, there was no official confirmation from the security institutions about what kind of device it was, nor whether its removal or deactivation was in progress.

The tenants state that the suspicious item was located in the immediate vicinity of the children's playground, across the street from the Miladin Mitic Elementary School.

And when asked whether a sharper reaction from Brussels and Washington can be expected, he replied that it cannot be expected".

Serbs in the villages of Kamenica four days without electricity (Kontakt plus radio, Radio Mitrovica sever, Medija Center Caglavica, RTS)

Residents of the villages of Busince and Tirince near Kosovska Kamenica have been without electricity for the fourth day, and there is no reaction from KEDS, despite numerous reports, Nebojsa Simic told RTS. According to Simic the electricity company officials are not responding to calls to fix the failure. He said that the electricity went out even before the snowstorm.

"Today we entered the fourth day. In addition to following the regular procedure, I informed KEDS and until today we don’t have any information. We have unofficially learned that three poles on the high-voltage transmission line to our villages have fallen," Simic told RTS yesterday.

This problem is old, added Simic and said that he led this process for eleven years, however, apparently unsuccessfully, suspecting that it is an obstruction by KEDS.

"In addition to the petition we wrote and pushed all the way to the KEDS Headquarters in Pristina, they asked from us, the residents of the village of Busince, to finance the material and the substation ourselves, and for KEDS to build a new transmission line, because the old one is inaccessible and over 60 years old. The last answer four months ago was that KEDS will prioritize us in the future, but that future has been going on for us for 11 years," said Simic.

He pointed out that two months ago he personally filed a complaint with the Energy Regulatory Agency in Pristina and has not received any response to date.

"The damage in more than 80 households, including a school, a clinic, a church, in these villages is incalculable and we wonder how we will face and survive another winter that is ahead of us. Two lives were lost due to a bad network and voltage in the past," warned Simic and sent an appeal again to all authorities to react as quickly as possible and solve the problem, "because in addition to obstruction", he suspects, "discrimination is being carried out against the residents of Businca and Tirince".

CoE Human Rights Commissioner addresses Serbian NGOs’ concerns over Kosovo’s Foreigners Law (KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty responded to a letter sent by Serbian civil society organizations and members of the academic community from Kosovo, who last week warned of the severe consequences that the announced implementation of Kosovo’s Law on Foreigners could have for the rights of the Serbian community.

“As the Commissioner for Human Rights, I am mandated to promote awareness of and respect for the human rights of all communities. Ensuring that the human rights of minority communities are upheld is key for guaranteeing democratic and human right-respectful societies across Europe, including Kosovo,” O’Flaherty said in his written response, reported KoSSev yesterday.

He thanked civil society representatives for drawing his attention to their concerns and for inviting him to visit Kosovo.

More than 30 civil society organizations and members of the academic community from Serbian areas in Kosovo recently warned that the strict implementation of the Law on Foreigners would have serious consequences for the functioning of educational and healthcare institutions serving the Serbian community.

In a joint public appeal addressed to Quint countries’ ambassadors, the EU, and the OSCE, they called for the urgent suspension of the law’s implementation and for its international review.

Stuart Munsch and his associates visited the Visoki Decani monastery (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)

The Commander of the NATO Joint Forces Command in Naples, Admiral Stuart Munsch, accompanied by the KFOR Commander, General Ozkan Ulutash, the Italian Commander, Colonel Lorenzo Mangia, and other associates, visited the Visoki Dečani Monastery, reported yesterday Radio Mitrovica sever.

The abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Sava Janjic, together with the brotherhood, introduced the guests to the life and spiritual work of the monastery, expressing gratitude for the long-term protection that international forces provide to this sanctuary.

"We are grateful to KFOR for 26 years of protection of our monastery and the understanding it shows towards our life and mission," Janjic said in a post on Facebook.

Kurti: “With Faton Peci leading South Mitrovica, the entire North will breathe differently” (KoSSev)

In the final stretch of the campaign ahead of Kosovo’s local elections, acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has intensified his visits to the North. Within a week, he has officially toured the region twice, reported KoSSev in English on Saturday.

During his first visit, Kurti briefly walked through North Mitrovica’s main promenade and stopped at an Albanian café. On Friday, despite rain and wind, he attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a new school and kindergarten in the northern part of the city, near the former Military Repair Factory.

Together with Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla, Kurti symbolically threw sand with a spade, while North Mitrovica’s incumbent mayor and Vetëvendosje’s candidate for re-election, Erden Atić, took up the shovel.

They were joined by other government ministers and by Faton Peci, the Vetëvendosje candidate for mayor of South Mitrovica.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/5f3xa9ky

SD candidate from Leposavic questioned by police after repairing benches in Serbian colors (KoSSev)

Vladimir Radosavljevic, president of the Leposavic branch of Serbian Democracy and a mayoral candidate in the upcoming elections, was brought in for questioning by Kosovo police on Friday. The reason, he said, was Thursday’s night action – repairing broken benches in the town center. Together with his supporters, he replaced the damaged planks with boards painted in the colors of the Serbian flag, leaving the broken ones at the office of the current mayor, Lulzim Hetemi, reported KoSSev in English on Friday.

According to Radosavljevic, police told him there were no criminal or misdemeanor charges against him, although he was summoned for “drawing the Serbian flag” and “leaving the broken boards” at Hetemi’s office.

“I didn’t paint the flag; I just had those planks at home. I only returned the broken ones to Hetemi,” he explained.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mv2euxkb

Vucic: I expect a partially objective report on Kosovo at the UN (Radio Mitrovica sever)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated on Friday, that he believes that the report of the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres on the situation in Kosovo, which will be discussed on October 21, will be partially objective, that it will not point out all aspects of Kurti's management, but that it will certainly point out some problems that the Serbian people are facing.

In response to a journalist's question, whether he expects an objective report, he said that everyone in the West knows what was happening in Kosovo, both Americans and Europeans.

"You can no longer hide it. You can no longer repeat the same story that you have been telling for two years, or I don't know how long. People see who is persecuting the people, who is persecuting the Serbian people," he said.

And when asked whether a sharper reaction from Brussels and Washington can be expected, he replied that it cannot be expected.

International Media

Torture weapons are being used on Europe's streets to put down protests (EUobserver)

By Dr Alice Jill Edwards

In this era marked by democratic volatility, spiraling prices and calls for social change, peaceful protests are increasingly being policed with a heavy hand. The risk of anti-authoritarian protest feels particularly high.

In Europe — and beyond — security forces are maintaining order through often brutal tactics, which utilise weapons and other instruments that have no purpose apart from inflicting excessive pain.

In July, the European Union quietly adopted a revised anti-torture regulation, binding on its 27 member states, that restricts trade outside Europe of certain law enforcement items and requires authorisation for companies trading in other equipment that has the potential to be misused to torture.

They must be praised for their leadership on this issue, as the only political region to have adopted binding rules.