UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 2, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Drastic drop for Kosovo in RSF World Press Freedom Index (media)
Osmani received with state honors by Malaysia Prime Minister (media)
Police arrest two suspects for inciting division and intolerance in Pristina (media)
U.S. KFOR soldiers donate to Kosovo Police station in Kamenica (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Milicevic: Key problems facing Serbs in Kosovo are political instability, economic situation and security (media)
Mijacic: Creative solutions from all three sides required to address closed Serbian institutions issue (Kosovo Online)
Anniversary of death of Marija and Nikola Petrovic: Years of pain and grief (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Trial of four Serbs over alleged involvement in attack on Municipal Election Office in Mitrovica North continues (media)
Vanovac: Decline in media freedom index in Kosovo partly expected (KiM radio)
Workers in Kosovo in protest for their rights, demanding an increase in wages (KoSSev, RFE)
Austrian FM denies interfering in Serbia’s internal affairs (N1)
Serbian students running from Linz to Salzburg on day 8 (N1)

International:

Trump Moves Waltz to U.N. and Names Rubio Interim National Security Adviser (The New York Times)
Are new elections a way out of the political stalemate in Kosovo? (EWB)
RSF report: Media freedom tumbling in most Balkan countries (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Drastic drop for Kosovo in RSF World Press Freedom Index (media)

All news websites report today that Kosovo has been ranked 99 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index for 2025 by Reporters Without Borders. Last year it was ranked at 75. Kosovo’s Association of Journalists said in a statement that “this ranking is the lowest in a decade, since 2015”.

The Reporter Without Borders report notes that:

While the Kosovo media market is diverse, its development is limited by its small size and ethnic divisions. Media freedom is threatened by politicised regulation, gag suits, insufficient access to public information and serious risks for the safety of journalists.

Media landscape

Despite its small size and division along the ethnic lines, Kosovo has a pluralistic and dynamic media market. The highly concentrated TV sector is dominated by private channels based in Pristina, the capital, although the public broadcaster RTK plays an important role. New online news portals include strong brands such as BIRN, Kossev or Kosovo 2.0, the latter being one of the few media outlets to publish both in Albanian and Serbian.

Political context

Even if the media succeed in holding politicians accountable, journalists continue to be the targets of political attacks. The ineffective media regulator, the Independent Media Commission (IMC), was subjected to a controversial legislative reform that risks further hampering its independence. Before the 2025 general election, several private media were targeted by a boycott from the government, which also threatened the independence of the public broadcaster RTK. Serbian-language media, which are under pressure from Serbian political forces, have complained of discrimination in access to public information, particularly in their language, which is that of the constitutional minority.

Legal framework

Freedom of expression, protection of sources and the right to information are legally guaranteed, while defamation and libel are decriminalised. But more and more journalists have been subjected to SLAPPs initiated by business groups and politicians. The access to public information has been hampered by poor application of the law. In practice, copyright law is not upheld either.

Economic context

The media are mainly funded by advertising revenues from the private sector, and are also sometimes supported by municipal authorities or political parties. In addition, through their owners, private media newsrooms are exposed to interference from powerful political or business groups. Serbian-language media face the extra challenge of a small market in which some media depend on funding from neighbouring Serbia, while the independent media would not survive without international funding.

Sociocultural context

Although journalists are trusted by society, independent media and investigative journalists are often the targets of insults and fake news on social media. They are unfairly accused of “collaborating with the enemy”, rhetoric used by political and religious groups.

Safety

Although no journalist has been killed since the end of the Kosovo War (1998-2005), the murders and disappearances that took place before and during the conflict have gone unpunished. In recent years, many journalists have been subjected to threats and physical attacks from criminal networks and also due to the political tension between Pristina and Belgrade. Some journalists have also been targeted by surveillance. Although the attacks are investigated by the police and prosecutor’s office, they have rarely resulted in prosecutions.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) said in a press release today that it was alarmed by a new, drastic drop for Kosovo in the new ranking of the annual World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. “From the 75th position where it had fallen last year, this organization for 2025 ranks Kosovo at 99th place out of a total of 180 countries for which it conducts the measurement. The report highlights that journalists in Kosovo are a constant target of political attacks and are unfairly labeled ‘collaborators of the enemy." The approval of the Law on the IMC, which politicized this independent body, is also criticized. "Even if the media succeed in holding politicians accountable, journalists continue to be the targets of political attacks. The ineffective media regulator, the Independent Media Commission (IMC), was subjected to a controversial legislative reform that risks further hampering its independence. Before the 2025 general election, several private media were targeted by a boycott from the government, which also threatened the independence of the public broadcaster RTK. Although journalists are trusted by society, independent media and investigative journalists are often the targets of insults and fake news on social media. They are unfairly accused of “collaborating with the enemy”, rhetoric used by political and religious groups," the report states in its main section. It also mentions the increase in SLAPP lawsuits against journalists, difficulties in accessing public documents, surveillance of journalists, and threats to their physical safety. AJK is deeply concerned by this ranking, the lowest in a decade, since 2015. However, it sees this as a reflection of a continuous active hostile policy towards the media in the last two years by the Government led by the political party Vetëvendosje. AJK invites all institutional and civil society actors to work together, including drafting a new law for the IMC, so that the country can improve its catastrophic ranking in the media freedom index,” the statement notes.

Head of the Association of Journalists, Xhemajl Rexha, at a press conference in front of the Kosovo government building in Pristina, told reporters that it is time for society to reflect and for institutions to work together in protecting the freedom of the media. “The AJK is interested in coming together and if necessary, to form a national task force that will address the security of journalists and the press freedom in Kosovo,” he said.

Most news websites report that Kosovo’s acting Prime MInister, Albin Kurti, on his way back from an event in downtown Pristina, refused to answer questions from journalists about the latest World Press Freedom Index.

Vlora Citaku, senior member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said that Kosovo’s dramatic drop by 24 points is “a serious alarm about the state of democracy and the right to information in the country”. “From a 75 rating in 2024 to a 99 rating this year, “Kosovo is slipping toward a ground where the free voice of journalists and institutional transparency are being threatened every day. This drop is not just a statistic, it reflects concrete restrictions, continuous pressure against journalists, as well as vicious attacks and slander that are seriously damaging the media landscape,” she argued.

Hykmete Bajrami, MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said that Kosovo dropping by 24 points in the Press Freedom Index “is a result of Kurti’s government which throughout its mandate chose propaganda over transparency, control over criticism and fear over freedom … This drop is an alarm for every citizen that believes in democracy. This is not only an index in an international report, but also a picture of four years during which Kurti’s government attacked journalists, denigrated media that criticized them and tried to silence the freedom of speech”.

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said the declining media freedom in Kosovo is not a coincidence but rather a result of fear, control and political arrogance. “Media freedom has been won through sacrifice. It must never be exchanged with silence. This is not the way to honor the war for freedom. A government that is afraid of criticism, it is afraid of its people,” he said in a Facebook post.

Adriatik Kelmendi, author of the political show Rubikon in Klan Kosova, said in a Facebook post today that “the news that Kosovo has dropped very low on the Press Freedom Index, even behind Vucic’s Serbia, is very bad news. Without free media there can be no free society. Add here the fact that we are still under the EU penalty measures and with a Prime Minister that has been excommunicated by most of the democratic world, it means that Kosovo is in a very very bad position”.

Flutura Kusari, media lawyer and senior advisor to the European Council for Press and Media Freedom, said in a Facebook post: “what worse needs to happen than Kosovo to be ranked in the lowest rating in the last decade in the Press Freedom Index, for our government to reflect and take measures? A National Committee for Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists needs to be established urgently in order to stop the declining trend through concrete measures and state policies. But there is also another precondition for this: Vetevendosje must stop its attacks against journalists and the media and to reach out for cooperation with the media and civil society organizations”.

The German Embassy in Kosovo said in a Facebook post that “Kosovo has fallen a total of 24 places in the latest RSF‘s Press Freedom Index, placing it at the very bottom in regional comparison - even behind Serbia. The report reads like a task book for the new government, clearly outlining the steps needed to secure a free press, which is essential to any vibrant and resilient democracy”.

Osmani received with state honors by Malaysia Prime Minister (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has been received by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, today. “An incredible privilege to be received with state honors by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim at the Perdana Putra in Putrajaya today. A truly memorable occasion that reflects the enduring friendship between our countries,” Osmani wrote in a post on X.

Police arrest two suspects for inciting division and intolerance in Pristina (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo Police arrested two suspects in Pristina for inciting division and intolerance. During the raid in two houses, police seized several electronic devices, flags with Arabic insignia that are used by terrorist organizations. The two suspects were interviewed by a prosecutor and sent to detention.

U.S. KFOR soldiers donate to Kosovo Police station in Kamenica (media)

U.S. soldiers assigned to Regional Command East of the NATO-led KFOR mission joined together for a donation ceremony at a Kosovo Police station in Kamenica, KFOR said in a Facebook post today. “The donations, made by KFOR to the Kosovo Police, enabled improvements to family rooms that support victims of domestic violence. Such investment aims to create a safer and more comfortable environment for the recovery of victims. These efforts are part of KFOR’s Civil Military Cooperation team’s daily mission to support all communities living in Kosovo,” the post notes.

Serbian Language Media

Milicevic: Key problems facing Serbs in Kosovo are political instability, economic situation and security (media)

Miodrag Milicevic, Executive Director of the NGO AKTIV, presented in Pristina on Wednesday the annual publication on the status, challenges, and prespectives of the Serbian community in Kosovo. He said research revealed a prevailing sense of pessimism among Kosovo Serbs, with the key issues being political instability, economic conditions, and security.

The study titled “Trend Analysis 2024: Attitudes of the Serbian Community in Kosovo”, published for the ninth consecutive year by NGO AKTIV, tracks shifts in public opinion among Kosovo Serbs, focusing on concerns such as freedom of speech, trust in politicians, and other critical matters. Milicevic emphasized that the research methodology remained unchanged.

One of the key findings, he said, is that as many as 91.2% of respondents from both the north and south of Kosovo believe that the situation is not moving in the right direction, and only one in ten respondents thinks life for Serbs in Kosovo will improve in the next three years.

Milicevic highlighted political instability, economic hardship, and security issues as the central concerns.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/6rmcl

Trial of four Serbs over alleged involvement in attack on Municipal Election Office in Mitrovica North continues (media)

The trial of Milun Milenkovic Lune, Dejan Pantic, Momir Vakic and Aleksandar Vlajic over their alleged involvement in the attack on the Municipal Election Commission office in Mitrovica North continued today at the Basic Court in Pristina, Kosovo Online portal reported. They are accused by the prosecution “of carrying out a terrorist act”.

The special prosecutor Bekim Kodraliju as evidence presented photographs and video recording, as well as correspondence of Aleksandar Vlajic who allegedly with messages decided who would do what on a day when the attack occurred.

Milenkovic’s defence lawyer, Predrag Miljkovic objected to the evidence of prosecution, arguing that the informative report presented as a criminal complaint cannot be considered as evidence. Also, he said the photos shown by the prosecution, the defence sees for the first time in colour, because they were previously delivered to them as photocopies in black and white.

Miljkovic also said that on some photos the location of Grey restaurant was not clearly marked in order to give the impression it was a road junction and the exact location. Because of that he requested from court to have a visit organized to that location in person. He also said faces on some photos are not clear in order to identify the persons. He also objected to a report in which unlawful acts of a police officer were shown, where Milenkovic allegedly admits taking part in protest without the presence of his defence lawyer.

Defence lawyer of Aleksandar Vlajic, Milos Delevic said presentation from prosecution shows messages from Vlajic’s phone, but it is unknown on what day and to whom the message was sent, as it cannot been seen based on it, that Vlajic was giving instructions to someone, adding that prosecution evidence was groundless. Delevic further argued it has not been confirmed that Vlajic called Milenkovic on a critical day, adding it was only assumption of the prosecutor based on the statement of witness Idrizi. He also said the court must pay attention till the end to the legality of the gathered evidence.

Defence lawyer of Dejan Pantic, Ljubomir Pantovic objected to all the evidence presented by prosecution. He said photos 1 and 2 presented as evidence by the prosecutor and claiming that Milenkovic and other defendants were going to the Municipal Election Commission office were inaccurate.

“None of defendants is seen on these photographs, in particular not my client”, Pantovic said. Photo nr. 8 shows an ambulance and a group of people, while prosecution claims that Milenkovic and other defendants are clearly seen there, he noted. And Dejan Pantic is nowhere mentioned, more precisely the prosecutor does not say that. In a photo nr. 9 prosecution claims that all defendants are in front of the Municipal Election Office at the time of attack with a stun grenade. It is not true that my client came in front of that office and that is clearly seen, Pantovic added.

He also pointed out that viber conversation between Dejan Pantic and Aleksandar Vlajic included words such as “pears and apples”. “These messages were written two days after the attack, it is not evidence at all, as prosecution claims”, Pantovic said and asked the court to pay attention to the date of these messages.

Lawyer Dejan Vasic said after the evidence was presented it is clear to everyone now that this is about “implementation of a political judicial process”.

The attack on the Municipal Election Commission office in Mitrovica North took place on December 6, 2022, during the protest of Serbs there. Two bombs and two stun grenades were thrown. No one was injured during the incident.

Vanovac: Decline in media freedom index in Kosovo partly expected (KiM radio)

The President of the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) branch in Kosovo (DNKiM), Ivana Vanovac, stated for KiM radio that the Media Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for 2025, according to which Kosovo took 99th place, was partially expected, indicating the possibility that its authors did not have access to all the information about the pressures that journalists suffer, reported KiM radio.

Speaking about the media reporting in the Serbian language in Kosovo, Vanovac said there are pressures, discrimination, and financial problems.

"But, overall, those media report in an extremely high-quality and good way. Freedom is won step by step and no one will just give it to the media. It often depends solely on the courage and professionalism of journalists”, she said.

Vanovac also explained that Reporters Without Borders list indicates the level of media freedom, but that it is also an indicator of the level of corruption and the current regimes' propensity for crime and malfeasance of all kinds, adding that "the less there is, the less is the need to control the media".

Kosovo's fall on the list, in her opinion, is additionally conditioned by trends, and as one of the reasons for the deterioration of the situation in Kosovo, she cited the undemocratic law on the Independent Media Commission (IMC), which was recently declared unconstitutional.

"If something 'contributed' to the decline in the quality of information for citizens in Kosovo in the past year, then it is the undemocratic law on the IMC which, fortunately, was repealed a few days ago by the decision of the Constitutional Court", said the president of the UNS branch in Kosovo.

As for Serbia, which recorded a symbolic progress of two places, Vanovac assessed it was a "phantom shift" that was not based on real improvement.

"The situation around REM is also very unfavorable. I believe that the move by two places is solely the result of the deterioration of the situation in other countries, and by no means a realistic indicator of the degree of media freedom," she concluded.

The findings of RSF when it comes to the degree of freedom of the press (media) in Kosovo have been assessed as "alarming" by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo. Not so long ago, Kosovo was in the 56th position on the RSF list, recalled KiM radio.

Workers in Kosovo in protest for their rights, demanding an increase in wages (KoSSev, RFE)

Under the motto "Government - Companies, it's too late, come to your senses or goodbye", the Union of Trade Unions of Technical Workers of the Private Sector of Kosovo protested in Pristina on May 1, International Workers' Day, reported KoSSev, citing RFE.

The president of the union, Yusuf Azemi, said that the workers of the private sector of Kosovo are "treated like slaves" by the institutions, adding that "there is almost no such treatment anywhere in Europe".

The members of the union demanded an increase in wages in the private sector to 600 euros, a collective agreement, health insurance and the establishment of a labor court.

"We cannot survive with the salaries we have. In Kosovo, private sector workers still receive a salary of 230 euros. This salary does not allow us to die, but neither does it allow us to live", said Hafije Statovci from the trade union.

According to the latest data from the Tax Administration of Kosovo, the average gross salary in Kosovo is 702 euros.

The private sector is considered the largest employer, with over 300,000 employees.

Earlier on Thursday, the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD) announced that International Workers' Day finds Kosovo "with old problems - workplace deaths, outdated laws, dysfunctional institutions." According to IKD, Kosovo Government and Assembly did not act appropriately in the social field, including the adoption and implementation of laws in this field. In the statement, IKD stated that the Kosovo Government not only did adopt most of the laws in the social field, but also did not implement the existing laws either.

"Fundamental laws such as Labor Law, the Occupational Safety and Health Law and the Labor Inspectorate Law have been removed from the agenda or remain unaddressed, reflecting a lack of progress and engagement on urgent social issues", the statement said.

"On the other hand, the Assembly of Kosovo failed to elect a trade union representative to the Board of the Pension Savings Foundation and did not effectively exercise its supervisory function over the Government. In the last 12 years alone, according to official statistics and data of the trade union, 263 workers lost their lives in the workplace, 12 in 2024 alone, while in the first five months of this year we have 10 cases of death at the workplace", said IKD.

The New Union of the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), the Independent Union of Trepca Miners, the Collective for Feminist Thought and Action and the group against the increase in electricity prices "Not a Cent More" also protested in the main squares of Pristina on Thursday.

International Workers' Day - May 1 - is used across the world as a day to demand workers' rights, convey general economic complaints or political demands.

The latest data from the Kosovo Statistics Agency show that out of 1,074,704 people who are able to work - from 15 to 65 years old - 461,000 or 43 percent are economically active on the labor market.

Over 613,000, or 57 percent of citizens of working capacity, are not economically active.

The general unemployment rate in Kosovo is estimated at 10.7 percent.

Austrian FM denies interfering in Serbia’s internal affairs (N1)

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger denied that her meetings with civil society organization members was interference in Serbia’s internal affairs, reported N1.

“This was not meant to be an internal interference but about European values and fundamentals,” the Austrian FM said in an X post adding that she spoke to her Serbian counterpart Marko Djuric by phone to assure him that the Serbian people can count on Austria’s support on the path to membership in the European Union.

“I spoke to Serbia’s Foreign Minister yesterday on the phone about my meeting with members of Serbia’s civil society. Active engagement of civil Society is a valuable part of democracy. The aim was to once more state that the Future of Serbia lies in the EU and Austria will continue to support Serbia on this path. This was not meant to be an internal interference but about European values and fundamentals. As I already stressed during my very good and constructive talks in Serbia this week, EU membership includes a strong commitment to the principles and values of the European Union, including rule of law, democracy, and freedom of speech. I assured FM Djuric that the Serbian people can continue to count on Austria as a friend and supporter on their way towards full EU membership,” the X post said.

Meil-Reisinger also addressed the Serbian students running a relay marathon from Novi Sad to Brussels to deliver a detailed account of the situation in Serbia. “What you are doing is unbelievable, so brave,” she said in Vienna on Wednesday evening, adding that she wants to see progress, results, democracy, rule of law and prospects for the students.

Serbian students running from Linz to Salzburg on day 8 (N1)

The Serbian students running to Brussels left the Austrian city of Linz on Friday heading to Salzburg on the 8th day of their marathon, N1 reported.

The students running the relay marathon from Novi Sad to Brussels are carrying a detailed account of the situation in Serbia which they plan to hand to officials at European Union institutions. They run individually or in small groups handing off at regular intervals.

They were met on Thursday evening in Linz by a smaller crowd than in Vienna with less noise and partying in line with local laws, N1 said. The crowd and runners also marked the 6-month anniversary of the tragedy at Novi Sad railway station which claimed 16 lives. They released 16 white balloons and were addressed by local Serbians and local government officials.

International

Trump Moves Waltz to U.N. and Names Rubio Interim National Security Adviser (The New York Times)

This is the first significant personnel overhaul of top White House aides, and the kind of shake-up President Trump has sought to avoid in his second term.

President Trump on Thursday removed his national security adviser, Michael Waltz, and nominated him as ambassador to the United Nations, the first significant personnel overhaul of top White House aides and the kind of shake-up that Mr. Trump had sought to avoid in his second term.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security adviser and will remain the nation’s top diplomat, Mr. Trump said.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/yska7rup

Are new elections a way out of the political stalemate in Kosovo? (EWB)

The eighth attempt to constitute the new Kosovo Assembly failed on 29 April, since Albulena Haxhiu, nominated by Vetëvendosje (VV), did not receive sufficient votes to be elected as the Speaker. The next session is scheduled for 1 May, as, according to the rules, members of the Assembly are obliged to meet every 48 hours until the process is completed, and there is no limit on the number of such sessions, reported EWB on Wednesday.

However, there is a period of one month to elect the Speaker of the parliament, starting from the date of verification of the mandates. If this does not happen, the new elections will be called.

The interlocutors of EWB do not rule out the possibility that the citizens of Kosovo will cast their ballots soon, either during the summer or in the autumn. According to them, in current circumstances, if either Albin Kurti, the leader of VV, or the opposition parties, succeed in forming the new government, it would be weak and short-lived.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/bdeeety4

RSF report: Media freedom tumbling in most Balkan countries (BIRN)

The majority of Balkan countries, including Kosovo, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova, have dropped in the latest press freedom rankings compiled by the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, RSF.

The 2025 World Press Freedom Index, published on Friday, underscores increased economic pressure on independent media around the world and a wave of media shutdowns. As a result, the latest ranking classifies the global state of press freedom as a “difficult situation”, a first in the history of the Index.

In Europe and Central Asia, the index warns of a “slow economic asphyxiation of the independent press”.

In the Balkans, only Albania, Montenegro and Serbia saw their rankings improve, despite significant problems hampering their media freedom in these countries.