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RTS: Serb properties in Kosovo – judiciary siding with usurpers (RTS, Radio kontakt plus)

Many Serbs facing property and legal issues in Kosovo have decided to speak about that publicly since they cannot achieve justice in a legal manner, due to injustice imposed against them by the Kosovo society, Serbian media reported. Also, smaller number of Croats, Roma and Gorani are also facing issues of usurped properties but do not dare to talk about that publicly fearing for their own security. There are only 15 Serbs living in Vitina now. They live under pressure and cannot preserve their properties. Stana Petkovic, who lives in the centre of this town, is forced to share her house with an Albanian, who after the death of her husband, falsified contract and stopped paying rent for the house. She is worried for her safety but does not want to give up on her property. “The court is on their side, 99 percent. I told him you would go to prison because you forged the contract and he responded – never. There is no court, no law, there is nothing, no justice at all,” Petkovic said. Antic family from Pristina settlement Maticani also faces property issues. “An Albanian moved into our house in 1999, without asking us. Then the house was demolished. I wonder who gave them right to take away someone else property? What would happen if we would do something like that?” Suzana Arsic told Serbian media. Zorica Arsic claims she has never received agreed money for 70 acres of land in Caglavica and there is an entire Albanian settlement reconstructed there. “He built the houses, inhabited and sold them, and now he does not respond to our calls. We were forced to send him to the court,” Zorica Arsic said. Hazir Haziri, Roma, said he has evidence of property ownership in the center of Pristina, but considers that as a member of the Roma national minority he stands no chances to win the case. “Skender Fetahu, whom I know very well, usurped my house since 1999. He demolished the old one and built a new house. My case is in the court since 2005, as usurper made fraudulent documentation,” Haziri said. Legal professionals have lots of cases to deal with, and part of them believe that stronger public pressure on Kosovo institutions is needed to make them apply the laws, while others believe massive return of displaced Serbs to Kosovo could be a possible solution, Serbian media reported.