UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 4, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Saga of failures to constitute the new Kosovo Assembly continues (RFE)
Haxhiu doesn’t rule out local and parliamentary elections at same time (media)
Citaku: Kosovo blocked because of Vetevendosje’s political stubbornness (media)
Limaj: We need a political agreement that will bring new institutions (Nacionale)
Haradinaj: We are ready for elections (Klan Kosova)
Osmani: KSF is our pride; alliance with US is our anchor (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Systematic (non)compliance with the Law on the Use of Languages: Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (social media)
Reduction in the number of councilors in the north of Kosovo: Discrepancy between the census and voter lists (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
Simic: We have always called for peace, while those who set fire to international vehicles are now in the Kosovo government (Kosovo Online)
Sentic: We treat all human rights violations issues with high attention (Kosovo Online, media)
Petkovic: Killers of Stolic family from Obilic have not been brought to justice 22 years later (media, social media)

International:

Kosovo Police arrest 22 in major anti-drug operation (PI)
Hidden graves: Kosovo’s race against clock to find wartime missing (PI)

Albanian Language Media

Saga of failures to constitute the new Kosovo Assembly continues (RFE)

For the 26th time in a row, members of the Kosovo Assembly have again failed to constitute the new legislative from the February parliamentary elections. Since May 1, for the eighteenth time, MPs have refused to form a committee that would oversee a secret vote for the new Assembly Speaker. The secret vote was proposed by constitutive session chair, Avni Dehari, after Vetevendosje’s candidate for Assembly Speaker, Albulena Haxhiu, failed on several occasions to get the required 61 votes for the post. Parties that were in the opposition in the previous legislative have asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the matter of the secret vote, claiming that Vetevendosje’s attempt for a secret vote goes against the Constitution.

Haxhiu doesn’t rule out local and parliamentary elections at same time (media)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Albulena Haxhiu, said they will meet President Vjosa Osmani today to consult on the date of local elections, and she did not rule out the possibility of holding both local elections and new parliamentary elections at the same time. “We have an invitation from President Osmani to meet at 14:00 today and to talk about the date of local elections. We will attend the meeting. It is important to hear the political parties and their proposals about the possible date of local elections. But a situation where both elections would be held at the same time is also not excluded. We are not against it. If the Assembly is kept hostage and is not constituted, then elections are the only solution. We know that we cannot go to elections without the assembly being constituted, but this can be done with a new political agreement,” she said.

Citaku: Kosovo blocked because of Vetevendosje’s political stubbornness (media)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Vlora Citaku said today after another failed attempt to constitute the new Assembly, that Kosovo remains blocked “because of Vetevendosje Movement’s political stubbornness”. “Unfortunately there is nothing new. Kosovo remains blocked because of the political stubbornness of the Vetevendosje Movement. We failed to constitute the Assembly again today. There were efforts today and unfortunately the session was framed to accommodate the needs of MPs and they are failing to find an agreement for the good of the people. This is regrettable and I apologize,” she said.

Limaj: We need a political agreement that will bring new institutions (Nacionale)

NISMA leader Fatmir Limaj said today that only a political agreement between the parties can result in the formation of the new institutions. “We need a political agreement that will give Kosovo its institutions. We offered a solution, in line with our abilities to be responsible. Our country will have its institutions. Today we have a meeting with the President too. We hope to get good news,” Limaj told reporters after another failed attempt to form the new Assembly.

Haradinaj: We are ready for elections (Klan Kosova)

MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Daut Haradinaj told reporters today that this party is ready even for new general elections. “We are ready for new elections, why not, I think that too is a solution. I have said since day one that elections are a solution,” he said.

Osmani: KSF is our pride; alliance with US is our anchor (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X that the Defender Europe 2025 military exercise showed pride in motion, professionalism forged through sacrifice, and a partnership that defines who we are. “Today, as Commander-in-Chief, it was an extraordinary honor to address the brave men and women of our Security Force, standing side by side with our allies. Leading this momentous exercise is the 28th Infantry Division of the United States Army—a symbol not only of unmatched capability but of an unshakable friendship. The alliance between Kosovo and the United States is not merely strategic. It is built on shared history, shared sacrifice, and a shared belief that freedom is worth defending—together. Defender Europe 2025 is more than a name. More than an exercise. It is proof that Kosovo is ready. Ready to contribute. Ready to defend. Ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States and NATO—not as a bystander, but as a trusted partner in preserving peace and the values we hold dear. The Kosovo Security Force is our pride. Our alliance with the United States is our anchor. And our future—firmly and unequivocally—belongs in the Euro-Atlantic family,” Osmani said.

Serbian Language Media

Systematic (non)compliance with the Law on the Use of Languages: Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (social media)

The violation of the Law on the Use of Languages in nearly every instance is the shortest, yet most accurate, conclusion following the analysis of the official website and social media accounts of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure of Kosovo. The absence of the Serbian language is not merely a result of technical oversights or occasional translation gaps, it is systematic and widespread. Key documents related to employment, tenders, legislation, and internal organization are available exclusively in Albanian, while the Serbian version of the website often contains empty or incomplete categories. This same practice extends to video content, which is consistently published only in Albanian. As a result, users who rely on the Serbian language are not granted even the minimum conditions for equal access to public information.

The issue of systematic violations of the Law on the Use of Languages in Kosovo has been raised for years, yet it persists despite the legal framework[1] that guarantees the equal use of Serbian and Albanian. As a result, non-majority communities, particularly those who communicate in Serbian, remain deprived of access to essential information. Moreover, this concern was explicitly acknowledged in the European Commission’s 2023 Kosovo Report[2], which highlights the problem in multiple sections.

Therefore, NGO Aktiv, Radio Kim, New Social Initiative (NSI), Radio Goraždevac and the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC) are continuing their public advocacy campaign aimed at urging institutions to address this long-standing issue. This week’s focus is the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, and the analysis of its website and social media channels reveals that Serbian is used only sporadically and symbolically.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/5au6xr3b

Reduction in number of councilors in north of Kosovo: Discrepancy between census and voter lists (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)

Compliance with the law or arbitrary application?

The Central Election Commission (CEC) recently decided that all four municipalities in the north of Kosovo – North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok - in the upcoming election cycle, expected in October, will have a smaller number of councilors in their assemblies, namely 15 representatives each, reported Kontakt Plus radio.

According to the Law on Local Self-Government, the number of councilors is determined in proportion to the number of inhabitants. In that process, the CEC uses data provided by the Ministry of Local Self-Government Administration (MALS), and currently these data are based on the results of the 2024 population census.

However, this standardized formula does not consider the specifics of northern municipalities with a Serbian majority, where the census was practically absent - the Serbian List called for a boycott, while many citizens testified that the enumerators did not come to their homes at all. As a result, the official data are not complete, so the estimates are based on the analyses of the Kosovo Agency for Statistics and international experts.

An additional problem is the significant difference between the number of enumerated residents and the number of persons on the voter lists. For example, according to CEC data, in North Mitrovica, 18,781 citizens had the right to vote in the parliamentary elections this year, while the census recorded only 7,920 inhabitants. Similar disproportions are recorded in other municipalities - in Leposavic, 13,876 voters were registered, while 9,485 residents were registered; in Zvecan, 7,203 voters against 2,867 registered; and in Zubin Potok, 6,843 voters, while only 3,385 residents were registered.

A question of legitimacy

Milica Andric Rakic from the New Social Initiative (NSI) said that CEC acts in accordance with the law but points out that even before complete and reliable data were not used in Serbian communities.

"In the absence of real numbers, it is only possible to calculate this formula with the help of the estimates of the Kosovo Agency for Statistics, and this has been the practice before, since Kosovo has never conducted a successful census in all Serbian municipalities", she says.

On the other hand, Aleksandar Rapajic from Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC) warns that estimates used by CEC to determine the number of councilors cannot be considered legitimate, because, as he said, they are based on incomplete or inaccurate data.

"This CEC decision further complicates the already fragile political situation in the north of Kosovo. The very fact that the number of councilors is determined based on a census that was not validly conducted in the northern municipalities already opens serious questions of legitimacy and equality", he says.

He added that the census in four municipalities was partially conducted due to, as he points out, poor organization and responsibility for the failure rests with the central authorities, who nevertheless use the results as valid.

"On the ground, we have a real feeling that the institutions in Pristina have decided to unilaterally refract decisions without consulting the local communities, which further encourages the feeling of political marginalization among the Serbs in the north", says Rapajic.

Discrepancy between the number of inhabitants and the number of voters

Although the decision to reduce the number of councilors is not negligible, Andric Rakic believes that the situation regarding voter lists is an even bigger problem.

"Voter lists are a far bigger problem than population estimates, because they have been transferred and make democratic processes impossible. For example, because of an unrealistic voter list, it was practically impossible to replace mayors, because there are not nearly as many voters", explains Andric Rakic.

At the same time, it indicates that the current situation with voter lists reduces the effectiveness of citizen initiatives.

"The discrepancy is huge, but while being unregistered does not prevent you from registering in the voter lists and voting, the fact that voter lists are not sorted threatens the mechanisms of citizen participation, in which the success of initiatives is determined by percentages based on the numbers on the voter list."

Rapajic believes that the discrepancy between the actual and estimated number of inhabitants creates room for manipulation.

"According to OSCE estimates from several years ago, the North Mitrovica municipality had about 30,000 inhabitants, so the number of councilors should be 19 or 21, according to the new rules. We are aware that there has been an exodus of residents, but it is also hard to believe that the population has dropped to less than 8,000, so the estimates are clearly incorrect and even malicious".

According to him, the difference between the census and voter lists directly affects the regularity of the election process.

"Such a difference is more than obvious and a serious institutional problem. In the parliamentary elections held this year in North Mitrovica, almost 7,000 citizens voted. As for voter lists, when you have unrealistically high numbers, it opens space for manipulations and calls into question the regularity of the elections", believes Rapajic.

Challenges for smaller and new parties

Although the reduction in the number of councilors does not refer to ethnicity but to the total number of seats, the consequences will be felt most among smaller and new political entities, warns Andric Rakic.

"The decision in itself does not affect what the representation of Serbs will be; the total number of seats (not 'Serbian' ones, as it is the case in the parliament) has been reduced, so the representation of Serbs and all other communities depends exclusively on votes for different political options. The decision can potentially have a somewhat negative effect on young parties and parties of non-majority communities in majority Serb municipalities, because they will now need more votes for a council seat than it was the case before", says Andric Rakic.

Rapajic believes that the combination of inaccurate estimates and unrealistic lists creates "artificial political imbalance".

"On the one hand, it allows more people to vote potentially than actually live on the ground, and on the other hand, the number of representatives who should represent those citizens is decreasing", says Rapajic.

Collapse of trust and feeling of marginalization

When asked whether such decisions further encourage the feeling of marginalization among Serbs in the north, especially after leaving the Kosovo institutions in 2022, Andric Rakic believes that this decision is not among the most controversial.

"It is not overly controversial compared to umpteen others and equally controversial policies", she said.

Rapajic, however, estimates that such measures further erode the trust of Serbs in Kosovo institutions.

"There is already a deep sense of mistrust towards the institutions in Pristina, and decisions like this only deepen it. Citizens feel that political decisions are made past them, without any transparency or involvement of the local community. In the long term, this can lead to further abstinence from elections and institutional distancing", concludes Aleksandar Rapajic.

Interlocutors of Kontakt Plus also agree that a systematic solution to the disproportionality between the census and voter lists is needed, as well as greater involvement of local communities in processes that directly affect their political life.

Simic: We have always called for peace, while those who set fire to international vehicles are now in the Kosovo government (Kosovo Online)

Member of the Presidency of the Serbian List, Igor Simic, stated today in Pristina that he will respond to the invitation from Kosovo authorities for talks, although he does not believe the process is fair, reported Kosovo Online.

He emphasized that they have always strongly advocated for peace and have never acted illegally, while some of those who previously organized violent protests in Pristina and set fire to international vehicles are now part of the Kosovo government.

“The fact is that we have always called for peace, and we will respond to the invitation, not because we believe it is a fair process, but because we have always called for peace and have done nothing illegal. Meanwhile, those who organized violent protests in Pristina and set fire to international vehicles are now in government,” he stated.

Simic confirmed yesterday, after a meeting with the Quint delegation, that he, Zlatan Elek, and Slavko Simic, along with over 40 other Serbs, have been summoned for questioning as suspects due to their participation in peaceful protests in northern Kosovo in December 2022, under accusations of attacking the constitutional order and other criminal offenses. Simic described this as political pressure on the Serb List and an attempt to intimidate the Serbian people, emphasizing that it is repression by Albin Kurti’s regime, especially ahead of the upcoming local elections.

Sentic: We treat all human rights violations issues with high attention (Kosovo Online, media)

The Ombudsperson Institution treats all human rights violations issues with high attention, Deputy Ombudsperson Srdjan Sentic told Kosovo Online, adding that 110 complaints from the Serbian community were submitted to his Office during the previous year, and out of this number 86 were admitted.

Sentic explained that complaints filed by members of the Serbian community mainly related to security, property rights, discrimination, Law on use of languages, employment, health and social protection, but also to the rights to access to documents.

He also recalled that the Ombudsperson Institution within the period of one month only received almost 200 individual complaints of parents, related to the child allowances issue where, as he noted, it has been confirmed that discrimination was in place, and recommendation issued to the Ministry of Finance and Transfers to address this issue.

Responding to a question related to reports of Serbian women from northern Kosovo about sexual harassment by Albanians and whether Ombudsperson deals with this issue, Sentic said that Ombudsperson Institution has regular meetings with both civil society organizations and association of women and girls who had faced direct or indirect sexual harassment. He added they requested responsible bodies to treat this issue with a high level of responsibility, noting that the decision of Kosovo Interior Ministry to adopt a special operational plan to tackle this problem points out to the fact this issue is recognized as a problem and must be adequately and urgenlty addressed.

Petkovic: Killers of Stolic family from Obilic have not been brought to justice 22 years later (media, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic recalled in a statement today that on this date, in 2003, the three-member Stolic family was killed at their home in Obilic, while perpetrators of this crime have never faced justice, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Petkovic said that “Slobodan and Radmila Stolic and their son Ljubinko were bestially tortured, and pathologists found on their bodies multiple traces of torture, although the house where their murder took place was set on fire, in order to conceal traces of crime”.

Petkovic also said “that same as in other cases of murdered Serbs, following arrival of international forces in Kosovo and Metohija, the perpetrators were not found, although the motive of the crime was clear – to intimidate potential returnees and small number of Serbs who remained living in Obilic at that time”.

Petkovic underlined it is important that crimes as the one targeting the Stolic family are not forgotten, while the policy of impunity for the crimes committed against the Serbs in Kosovo, must be replaced with a serious and genuine approach in facing the past.

Radio KIM in its report on the Stolic family murder anniversary reminded that the murder of 80-year-old couple and their son Ljubinko (50) was one of the most monstrous crimes against the Serbs, following the arrival of international military and civilian forces in Kosovo. It also said that UNMIK at that time offered a 50.000 euros reward for the information about the murder, but the investigation was halted due to lack of evidence.

International

Kosovo Police arrest 22 in major anti-drug operation (PI)

The Kosovo police and the Special Prosecution have arrested 22 individuals and seized substantial illicit assets as part of an anti-drug operation codenamed “Broken Sky” following a months-long investigation.

A large-scale counter-narcotics and anti-money laundering operation, codenamed “Qielli i Thyer” (Broken Sky), was carried out on Tuesday morning across multiple regions in Kosovo, resulting in the arrest of 22 individuals and the seizure of significant quantities of illegal assets.

“The persons were arrested on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of ‘organized crime’ in connection with narcotics trafficking and money laundering. The defendants are suspected of having committed the crimes through the ‘SkyECC’ application,” reads a joint press release by the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo and the Kosovo Police.

“The operation mobilised around 600 police officers who conducted raids across 47 locations in the regions of Pristina, Prizren, Peje, and Gjilan,” it continues.

Searches at the targeted locations uncovered evidence and illicit assets, including: large quantities of illegal narcotics, 29 vehicles, 134,900 euros in cash, 20,040 Swiss francs, 490 US Dollars, 13,000 in counterfeit currency, 9 luxury wristwatches, 36 firearms of various types, 1,569 rounds of ammunition, 1,292 units of different munitions, a hydraulic press used for packaging heroin and cocaine, numerous laptops, mobile phones, USB devices, and various documents.