Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo government lifts customs tariff on US goods (media)
• Osmani on removal of tariffs: Kosovo is reliable partner of U.S. (media)
• Kurti: Serbia trying to destabilize Kosovo, we’re responding successfully (media)
• Kosovo-Serbia among six conflicts Trump stopped this year (Express)
• Gucati: Haxhiu must notify EU institutions about actions of Special Court (media)
• NISMA supports protest against Special Court (media)
• Caretaker government allocates €500,000 for Gaza (RTK)
• Presence of wires discovered in Ujman Lake, no risk to people (RTK)
• Hibrid.info publishes annual report on the state of information disorder (media)
• US: Big news for Kosovo’s digital economy: Apple Pay now available (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Raska-Prizren Diocese reacts to inaccurate claims about alleged "fundamental agreement" between Serbian Orthodox Church and Kosovo institutions (media)
• Catholic Church in Kosovo distance itself from discourse insulting ethnic or religious feelings (KoSSev)
• Prosecutor's office and police rejected claims about risky cables in Lake Gazivode (KoSSev)
• PM Macut: Let’s get through the crisis, then plan elections (N1)
• Vucic called an emergency meeting of National Security Council for Saturday; former minister arrested (media)  
• Sandzak Islamic Community Meshihat: If all detainees are not released, we will call for protests (N1)
• Greta Thunberg at Belgrade protest (N1)
• Nine months since canopy collapse: Commemorative actions in multiple cities (N1)

Opinion:

• How a ‘Black Swan Event’ in Novi Pazar changed Serbia’s protest narrative (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Bosnia’s top court confirms Serb leader Dodik’s one-year prison sentence (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kosovo government lifts customs tariff on US products (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo’s caretaker government has decided to remove the customs tariff on goods from the United States of America. Caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the decision is proof of Kosovo’s good relations with the United States. “From now on, all goods from the United States will have zero percent tariffs when they enter Kosovo. Kosovo welcomes US goods in its market, and we strongly believe that this will lead to increased trade exchange and more investments,” Kurti said.

Osmani on removal of tariffs: Kosovo is reliable partner of U.S. (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, announced that as of today, the decision to completely remove customs tariffs on all products from the United States of America has come into effect. In a post on platform X, Osmani emphasized that Kosovo is the first country to propose the elimination of all trade barriers toward its most strategic ally, sending a clear message to the United States. “To the American President and the American people: Kosovo is your reliable partner in the efforts to make America and its allies stronger, safer, and more prosperous,” Osmani wrote.

“Today, I formally requested the Government of Kosovo to suspend import tariffs on all U.S. products, an important step to deepen economic ties with our closest ally and to send a clear message: Kosovo is ready for a more robust relationship with the United States, with a clear vision that would make both our countries stronger, safer and more prosperous. I am confident this move would unlock new opportunities for job creation, technology exchange, and long-term economic growth. More than just an economic move, this is a foreign policy objective, reaffirming our enduring commitment to the Kosovo–U.S. alliance, built on the shared values of freedom and decades of unwavering support.

Kurti: Serbia trying to destabilize Kosovo, we’re responding successfully (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that Serbia is constantly trying to destabilize Kosovo, but that Kosovo’s security and intelligence institutions are successfully reacting to these efforts. “While we are engaged in furthering and strengthening our partnerships with allied, democratic and peace-loving countries, our aggressive neighbor, Serbia, is continuing efforts to destabilize our country. The intelligence and security institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are successfully reacting against these efforts,” he said. Kurti said this includes the arrest of people who are engaged in activities against Kosovo, such as the case of senior member of the Kosovo Police, Bojan Jevtic, who was arrested in July on suspicion of espionage. 

Kurti has stated that Kosovo authorities possess evidence that the Deputy Director of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Igor Popovic, illegally recorded conversations during the Brussels dialogue process. According to Kurti, these actions were carried out without authorization and in violation of international norms, describing them as unacceptable acts that undermine the integrity of the dialogue and its participants. Kurti further stated that this reinforces suspicions about Serbia’s destabilizing role in Kosovo and the involvement of state structures in espionage activities. He added that the relevant security and justice institutions are treating the matter with utmost seriousness.

Kosovo-Serbia among six conflicts Trump stopped this year, secretary says (Express)

Press Secretary of the White House, Karoline Leavitt, told a press conference that US President Donald Trump has stopped six conflicts throughout the world during six months in office. “The President has now ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo, and Egypt and Ethiopia. This means that President Trump has mediated an average of one peace agreement or ceasefire per month during his six months in office,” she said.

Gucati: Haxhiu must notify EU institutions about actions of Special Court (media)

Leader of the KLA War Veterans, Hysni Gucati, expressed concern over reports that the Specialist Chambers in the Hague have accepted documents from Serbia’s security services in the trial against former KLA leaders. He said that local and international institutions must react to this. “The latest case of the Specialist Chambers accepting documents from the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs is very concerning. This is unacceptable and condemnable. The Special Court is proving that it cooperates with Serbian courts and especially with the Serbian army that committed genocide in Kosovo. Local and international institutions must undertake measures against this court and warn it not to work with Serbian documents,” Gucati said in an interview with TeVe1.

Gucati also said that Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu was late to react to the development. “The reaction by the Minister was late. She should send a verbal note to the Special Court. This court needs to answer to the state of Kosovo because it was voted by Kosovo MPs. Haxhiu needs to send a letter to all European countries and the EU Council telling them that the Special Court is cooperating with Serbian courts and the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs,” he argued.

NISMA supports protest against Special Court (media)

NISMA leader Fatmir Limaj said on Thursday that this party will strongly support the protest organized by the KLA War Veterans against the Specialist Chambers in the Hague. “We stand strongly in support of the protest, by siding with the organizations that represent those that contributed to the liberation war of the Kosovo Liberation Army … NISMA will always support efforts aimed at safeguarding the values of the war, as well as the dignity of all those that contributed to the freedom and independence of the Republic of Kosovo,” he said.

Caretaker government allocates €500,000 for Gaza (RTK)

During today's meeting, the caretaker government of Kosovo decided to allocate €500,000 to the Gaza Strip as a sign of solidarity. Caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti expressed his support for the people of Gaza, highlighting the hunger and deaths that innocent children are currently facing. He stated that the government is allocating half a million euros in support of the Palestinian people and called for a ceasefire.

Presence of wires discovered in Ujman Lake, no risk to people (RTK)

The Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica and the Kosovo Police have announced the conclusion of investigations initiated following claims of submerged electric wires in Ujman Lake, made by the head of the Kosovo Fishermen’s Association. After inspections, it was confirmed the wires were not connected to electricity and pose no danger. The Prosecution found no criminal offense, and police urged people not to worry, assuring continued patrols to ensure safety.

Hibrid.info publishes annual report on the state of information disorder (media)

The Pristina-based fact-checking platform Hibrid.info published the annual report on the state of information disorder. The report covers the period from July 2024 to June 2025.

The key findings of the report note:

Disinformation content published in Albanian was mainly categorized as “fake news” (25%), “disinformation” and “scams” (15% each), while “clickbait” ranked fourth with 11%. This type of content increased significantly during the period of the parliamentary elections in Kosovo on 9 February 2025, focusing particularly on political and security topics, such as the arming of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). Around 62% of fake news items in Albanian addressed political issues and 25% addressed security topics. Almost all of this content (99%) was disseminated on social media, particularly on TikTok and Facebook, while only 1% appeared in traditional media.

Meanwhile, in disinformation content disseminated by publishers in Serbian, “conspiracy theories” dominated with 34% and “disinformation” with 17%. “Conspiracy theories” mainly focused on political (45%) and security topics (45%), including the elections in Kosovo and developments in the north of the country. Unlike Albanian language media, most of these “conspiracy theories” in Serbian were published by real media outlets (84%), while only 16% were shared on social media. Regarding “disinformation”, 45% related to security issues, including events in the north and the Ibër Bridge, while 23% addressed political topics. Here too, most of the content was published in real media (59%), followed by social networks (36%) and suspicious online portals (5%).

The main misinformation topics in Kosovo

During this period, Albanian-language disinformation was mainly focused on political and security topics, reflecting public interest and sensitivities related to developments in Kosovo. The parliamentary elections of 9 February 2025 represented the most covered topic (18%) in disinformation content, including inaccurate polling data and manipulated interpretations. This was followed by “fake news” about the arming of the KSF (5%), tragic events (3%), issues related to the Specialist Chambers (3%) and a range of other topics with a smaller impact but still containing questionable content.

On the other hand, Serbian-language publishers also disseminated disinformation content, mainly on topics related to security issues and political developments in Kosovo. Most of this content focused on the north of Kosovo (18%), followed by the parliamentary elections (10%), majority-Serb settlements (8%) and the incident at the Ibër-Lepenc canal (4%).

Disinformation by Albanian-language publishers was mainly concentrated in two key fields: politics and security. Around 45% of fake news content was related to political issues, while 20% dealt with security topics, bringing the total to 65% for these two categories alone. Social issues ranked third with 16%, while crime and accidents made up only 5% of disinformation content. The remainder included various other fields with lower percentages and more limited impact.

Meanwhile, Serbian-language publishers followed a similar pattern, focusing disinformation mainly on political and security topics. Politics represented 38% of disinformation content in this group, while security topics accounted for 32%. The remaining 15% concerned other areas such as social, historical or cultural aspects but with a smaller presence compared to the dominant topics. 

Types of misinformation publishers

The vast majority of disinformation articles in Albanian were disseminated through social media, accounting for 74% of the total, while 23% were published in traditional media. Other means of dissemination, such as text messages (SMS) or suspicious online portals, were used minimally and had a limited impact on the spread of disinformation in Albanian, indicating that social networks remain the main channel for the distribution of false content in this language. The main social media platforms used by publishers to create and disseminate disinformation content about Kosovo were Facebook in the first place and TikTok in the second.

In the case of Serbian-language publishers, the picture is the opposite: real media outlets constitute the main source of disinformation, especially on topics related to developments in Kosovo. About 65% of disinformation content published in Serbian was distributed in traditional media, while only 18% appeared on social media. This shows a tendency among Serbian publishers to legitimize “disinformation” through media with a formal and credible appearance.

Types of social media

The data show that among the disinformation articles disseminated on social media by Albanian-language publishers, Facebook and TikTok dominate with almost equal percentages. Facebook holds the first place with 48% of the distributed content, while TikTok follows with 44%, with a minimal difference of only 4%. Other platforms such as YouTube, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and similar networks together account for only 8% of the distribution, playing a more limited role in the spread of disinformation in Albanian.

Meanwhile, when it comes to disinformation distributed in Serbian through social networks, Telegram stands out as the most used platform. About 43% of Serbian-language publications on social media were distributed on Telegram, mainly on topics related to northern Kosovo. Platform X (formerly Twitter) represents 8% of the publications, while TikTok has a very low presence with only 1%, reflecting a specific concentration of dissemination in certain channels that are less accessible to the wider public.

Most targeted institutions and personalities

During the monitoring period, out of a total of 548 disinformation articles published in Albanian, around 28% mentioned institutions or organizations in Kosovo and international organizations linked to developments in the country. The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) was the most targeted institution (19%), mainly in the context of “fake news” and “disinformation” about armament, recruitment or equipment of the KSF, as well as issues related to the Ibër Bridge. All of this content was shared on social media, predominantly on TikTok and to a lesser extent on Facebook. Political parties in Kosovo ranked second with 14% of the content, mainly related to the parliamentary elections held in February 2025. Meanwhile, the most mentioned personality was the incumbent Prime Minister, Albin Kurti (15%), with disinformation content categorized as “fake news,” “disinformation” or “manipulation of facts” on topics such as his visit to Bosnia, child allowances, relations with Serbia, or the forming of institutions after the elections. The list also includes U.S. President Donald Trump (4%), where disinformation articles about him were shared both on social media and real media, mainly related to the United States (U.S.)-Kosovo relations.

Out of 130 disinformation publications distributed in other languages (mainly Serbian), 25% mentioned various institutions, with the Kosovo Police at the top (26%). This content, which includes “fake news,” “disinformation” and “conspiracy theories,” was mainly focused on developments in northern Kosovo and was published almost entirely in Serbian real media. The second most targeted institution was the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia (19%), with articles reinforcing conspiracy narratives about security in Serb-populated areas and cases such as that of Faton Hajrizi. In terms of personalities, half of the articles in other languages (65) mentioned political and state figures, mainly from Serbian-language publishers. Albin Kurti was again the most mentioned personality, with content extending to “conspiracy theories” about the north, elections and other political events, published almost exclusively by Serbian real media. This group also included names such as Petar Petkovic and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who were addressed in a similarly misleading context.

Read full report at: https://shorturl.at/AFAZQ

US: Big news for Kosovo’s digital economy: Apple Pay now available (media)

The United States Embassy in Pristina said in a Facebook post on Thursday “big news for Kosovo’s digital economy: Apple Pay is now officially available! The U.S. Embassy is proud to have supported this important step, which reflects the growing role of U.S. companies investing in Kosovo’s future. This milestone advances Kosovo’s goals of economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital modernization, helping make the country even more attractive for U.S. investment and innovation”.

Serbian Language Media 

Raska-Prizren Diocese reacts to inaccurate claims about alleged "fundamental agreement" between Serbian Orthodox Church and Kosovo institutions (media)

Raska-Prizren Diocese in official reaction to allegations presented in the article of Belgrade-based daily Danas and Movement for Renewal of Kingdom of Serbia (POKS) party relating to the alleged existence of a draft of so-called "fundamental agreement" between the Serbian Orthodox Church and Pristina authorities said those claims were an absolute lie and a malicious construction, without any basis in reality, Serbian media reported. 

“No text, draft or proposal addressing the issue of status of Serbian Orthodox Church as a "contracting party" in relations with the government of Kosovo has existed, nor is it under consideration in any body of the Serbian Orthodox Church, either the Assembly or the Holy Synod, nor has it ever been submitted to His Holiness the Patriarch or the Diocese of Raska-Prizren”, the Diocese said in a statement.

“The content of the alleged "fundamental agreement" document released in the media clearly indicates that it is a legally illiterate and politically motivated fabrication, which could not have originated within any official body of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In particular, the insinuation that the Serbian Orthodox Church would accept such an agreement to pave the way for the formation of a "Kosovo Orthodox Church", which would eventually usurp Serbian holy sites, represents an extremely shameless slander against our Church and its historical testimony and sufferings in the area of Kosovo and Metohija, and a painful blow to our clergy, monasticism and faithful people in this difficult time”, the statement added.

Recalling rebuttals of similar allegations and false information in 2024, the Raska-Prizren Diocese once again strongly rejected allegations of some media on alleged participation of any Church official in any negotiation or talks on this issue. It also said that “such articles not only deceive the public, but also serve to destabilize the discipline inside the church and incite anxiety among faithful people”.

The Diocese also called on media, in particular those dealing with topics of national significance to verify the facts without respective institutions, instead of taking over unofficial constructs from social media and portals, without any accountability for the consequences. 

Catholic Church in Kosovo distance itself from discourse insulting ethnic or religious feelings (KoSSev)

The Catholic Church in Kosovo distances itself from any discourse insulting religious or ethnic feelings of anybody - this is what the parish priest in Pristina, Fatmir Koliqi told KoSSev on behalf of the Catholic Church.

The portal recalled that on July 23, a religious service led by Roman-Catholic priest Fran Kolaj was performed in the locality of a medieval Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) Monastery of Holy Mother of Hvosno, in Studenica village, near Istok, without knowledge and consent from the Serbian Orthodox Church. The locality in question is part of the Special Protection Zone hosting the heritage of the SOC. In addition to the service performed at the locality of SOC, without the latter’s consent or knowledge, priest Kolaj during his speech, based on the transcript that Raska-Prizren Diocese published used “inflammatory language inciting inter-ethnic and inter-religious hatred”. He also spoke about the KLA, 1999 conflict and Serbian president, which as the Diocese said in the statement, confirmed the political dimension of a gathering.

On the same day when the religious service was performed, KoSSev sent the media enquiry to the Catholic Church in Kosovo asking if the Bishop Don Gjergji had been aware of the event and speech of a priest Fran Kolaj? Also, the portal asked if the Catholic Church in Kosovo supports stances voiced by the priest Kolaj, as published in a video and transcript by the Raska-Prizren Diocese.

In a response that was sent to the portal today, Don Fatmir Koloqi, parish priest for Pristina on behalf of the Catholic Church in Kosovo said the Catholic Bishopric in Kosovo – was not informed of the event. "Regarding the event that took place on July 23 near the archaeological site of St. Mary Hvostanska, we clarify that the Catholic Bishopric of Kosovo was not informed nor was it involved in its organization", he said in a written reply.

On the other hand, he claimed it does not seem to them that the mass was held in a Special Protected Zone. "According to the conducted investigations, it does not seem that the mass was held inside the protected area, but in the attar of the village", he said. Koliqi also said he does not have an official recording of priest Kolaj’s speech and therefore can not assess it but that, nevertheless, the Catholic Church distances itself from any discourse insulting the feelings of anyone.

Prosecutor's office and police rejected claims about risky cables in Lake Gazivode (KoSSev) 

After analyzing all the evidence and information, the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Mitrovica assessed there are no elements of any criminal offense following the claims about "electric cables in the lake of Gazivode”, reported KoSSev. The president of the Fishermen's Association who stated this was questioned, and the police determined on the ground that there was no risk to citizens, the Kosovo police of the North region and the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Mitrovica announced last night in a joint statement. Based on the statements of the president of the Fishermen's Association, they say, an investigation was launched, and he was questioned.

"This person told the media that in Lake Gazivode (Ujman), electric wires submerged in the water were noticed, which, according to him, pose a danger to the lives of citizens. The same person was questioned today as a witness, where he stated that during the operation to remove illegal boats, he noticed wires in the water and that, if activated, they could pose a danger to citizens". Police say they also received a video recording of these claims, after which the unit went to the field and found: "That these wires are not connected to electricity and do not pose a risk."

Also, the police point out they have never received any reported cases related to this issue. The same was confirmed later by the prosecution: "After analyzing all the evidence and information, the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Mitrovica assessed that there are no elements of any criminal act". Citizens should not be alarmed and afraid, these two institutions said in a statement.

"Competent water border control units, as well as other police units, continuously conduct regular patrols in the lake, in order to guarantee the safety of citizens and monitor the situation on the ground," they stated at the end.

PM Macut: Let’s get through the crisis, then plan elections (N1)

Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut said that “as a society, we are not mature enough for early parliamentary elections at this time, because passions are running high and we lack a counterbalance in mainstream parties”, N1 reported.

“We need to define the political landscape first, with proper party organization that includes standard elements like ideas and platforms. I’m afraid there is no political responsibility and understanding of how to achieve this among those who proclaim it, or rather insist on a student list”, Macut said in an interview with daily Vecernje Novosti.

When asked if elections could be held by the end of the year, Macut expressed doubt, saying, “I’m not sure rushing into elections would have a positive outcome, as we are still dealing with ongoing tensions”. He emphasized that education is a cornerstone of social stability and sustainability in Serbia, but noted that this foundation remains shaky. “In my view, we need to fully stabilize that first, get through the crisis, and then start planning elections starting next year”, Macut said.

Vucic called an emergency meeting of National Security Council for Saturday; former minister arrested (media) 

Serbian media reported today that President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council for tomorrow, it has been confirmed to Tanjug in the Presidency.

Majority Serbian media at about the same time reported, citing Nova.rs unofficial findings, that former minister Tomislav Momirovic was arrested in an operation by the police and the Public Prosecutor's Office for organized crime.  As N1 unofficially learned, Momirovic was detained this morning at Nikola Tesla Airport. According to Nova.rs, a total of 14 people were detained, including Momirovic. The action of the Public Prosecutor's Office for organized crime has been ongoing since this morning.

Meanwhile, Public Prosecution for Organized Crime said that former ministers Tomislav Momirovic and Goran Vesic, and others, Anita Dimoska, Nebojsa Surlan and Slobodanka Katanic has caused the losses to the Serbia’s budget in amount of more than 115,5 million USD by concluding commercial agreements related to the railway reconstruction to Hungary. It also confirmed the arrest of former minister Tomislav Momirovic, and that the investigation also included former minister Goran Vasic, who was hospitalized on Thursday, and as media reported he underwent surgery early morning on August 1. A total of 6 persons were arrested. 

Belgrade-based daily Novosti described the arrest of Momirovic as a "massive coup d'état attempt" “carried out on the orders of the Europeans by the Special Prosecutor of the Public Prosecution for Organized Crime Mladen Nenadic, Public Prosecutor of the Public Prosecution for Organized Crime Jasmina Ganic, part of the police from UKP (Directorate of Criminal Police) and SBPOK (Service for Combating Organized Crime)".

Dragan J. Vucicevic, the editor-in-chief of infamous tabloid Informer, said that "the arrest of (Momir) Momirovic started a prosecutorial coup", adding "an arrest warrant was issued again for former minister Goran Vesic, even though he was charged" and that "all this is being handled by the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime".

According to another Belgrade-based daily Blic, this action was carried out by the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and SBPOK, allegedly without the knowledge of the Ministry of Justice.

Sandzak Islamic Community Meshihat: If all detainees are not released, we will call for protests (N1)

The Meshihat of the Islamic Community of Sandzak held an emergency meeting in response to recent events in Novi Pazar and across the country. They strongly condemned yesterday what they described as attempts by the state leadership and media loyal to it to portray the latest incidents at the State University of Novi Pazar (DUNP) as inter-ethnic or inter-religious conflicts. The Meshihat demanded the immediate release of all citizens arrested following the events of July 29 at DUNP. They warned that if all detainees are not released, they will be forced to call on believers and citizens to hold peaceful and dignified protests, as stated in the Meshihat resolutions, reported N1 in English. 

“Such attempts to fuel hatred and division among citizens are a continuation of a dangerous strategy aimed at preserving power while hiding responsibility for real issues behind fabricated ‘conflicts.’ We emphasize that these events have nothing to do with relations between Serbians and Bosniaks, that is, Orthodox Christians and Muslims in Sandzak, which have traditionally been good and respectful. On the contrary, Bosniaks and Serbians, Muslims and Orthodox Christians, stood shoulder to shoulder, defending our shared dignity, our collective future, and our youth,” the statement reads.

The Meshihat also sharply criticized a statement by the former prime minister, now speaker of the Serbian Parliament, who, they claim, grossly insulted all Muslims by saying, “then we heard shouts of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and various other vile things.”

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2kznxr3v

Greta Thunberg at Belgrade protest (N1)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg visited Belgrade on Thursday, as seen in videos circulating on social media.

She has spent recent days touring the region - visiting Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, and will also travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“I have learned a lot and connected with local activists and we have talked a lot about how the fight for justice, for a clean environment are inextricably linked with the fight against deadly fascism and nationalism,” Thunberg told the portal Masina.

She joined several friends at a blockade in New Belgrade.

Thunberg is in Belgrade to support the local struggle for freedom, against corruption, and against the exploitation of natural resources, Masina reported.

Nine months since canopy collapse: Commemorative actions in multiple cities (N1)

Nine months have passed since the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad train station, which claimed 16 lives and left one person severely injured. On Friday evening, the people of Novi Sad will gather with candles in hand to symbolically dispel the darkness and silence that followed the tragedy. A memorial walk is planned, and tributes will be paid to the victims at the train station. Some Novi Sad citizens have been passing by the station since Friday morning, N1 reported.

Student protesters have announced a plan, program and instructions for a protest in Belgrade titled “Nine Months, We Remember,” which will take place on Friday. A memorial walk will mark the nine-month anniversary of the Novi Sad canopy collapse. The event will begin with a gathering at 7 pm, followed by a walk from the city’s Old Train Station to the Belgrade-Center “Prokop” Train Station. The students also shared instructions for the protest: “Leave your whistles at home. Bring a piece of black cloth.”

Memorial walks will also be held in other cities across the country.

Opinion

How a ‘Black Swan Event’ in Novi Pazar changed Serbia’s protest narrative (Balkan Insight)

By Bojana Selakovic

The storming of an occupied university by masked security guards in south-west Serbia has re-energised the country’s protest movement – and built new bridges between young Serbs and the country’s minority Bosniaks.

Since June 28, Serbia’s ongoing protests have entered a new phase – persistent, decentralised and unrelenting, even in the face of summer heat and state repression.

This latest phase began when the students who have been leading the protests, at the end of a mass rally at Slavija Square in Belgrade, told the participants that they could now lead for themselves: “You have the green light. We trust you.”

Since then, acts of defiance have multiplied – each attempt at state suppression only fuelling further resistance. Meanwhile, the university occupations that have continued since last November are phasing out; entrance exams have resumed and discussions about how to make up for the disrupted academic year are underway.

Yet a “black swan event” this week has shifted the entire protest narrative.

The Novi Pazar incident

On the morning of July 29, masked men in black uniforms stormed the State University in Novi Pazar, a city of some 100,000 people in southwest Serbia with a large Bosniak population. The masked men physically confronted the students who had been occupying the building for months.

The assailants were later identified as private security guards from the town of Kraljevo. Shortly after, university administrators and police entered the premises, barring the students from returning.

The local response was immediate, unified and loud. What followed was even more extraordinary – an outpouring of nationwide solidarity. In response, the authorities arrested 10 protesters who took part in returning the university to the students.

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

International

Bosnia’s top court confirms Serb leader Dodik’s one-year prison sentence (Balkan Insight)

Bosnia’s state court has confirmed a verdict giving Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik's a one-year prison term and issued a six-year ban on him holding the office of president of the Republika Srpska entity.

The appeals chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday confirmed the first-instance verdict sentencing the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, to a year in prison and issued a six-year ban on him holding the office of president of the Serb-led entity.

Dodik’s co-accused, the former acting director of Republika Srpska’s Official Gazette, Milos Lukic, was acquitted. Lukic strongly criticised the court ruling against Dodik.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2ds7xat4