UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 11, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Christopher Hill testifies as defense witness in Thaci trial (media)
Hoxhaj on Hill’s testimony: History unites those that believed in a free Kosovo (Express)
CEC: Some ballots were printed with technical errors (media)
Krasniqi: We will submit complaint to ECAP about ballots in Mitrovica (media)
PDK wants a revote in the mayoral runoff election for Mitrovica South (media)
Osmani on Vukasinovic’s abduction: A crime and serious provocation (media)
Lawyer: 23 bullet casings were found near Vukanovic’s vehicle (KSP)
Kurti visits Institute for Crimes Committed During the War in Kosovo (media)
Haradinaj on Veterans Day: American heroes are Kosovo’s heroes too (media)
“Serbia appoints candidate who withdrew from race in Kllokot as mayor of parallel municipality” (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Armistice Day in the First World War (KoSSev)
Serbian MFA: Today we remember immense sacrifices of Serbian people during WWI (media, social media)
Srecko Spasic appointed head of Vitina provisional authority, functioning within Serbian system (Radio KIM)
Lawyer Ninic: "23 more shell casings found near Vukasinovic's car"; Sarovic published a video of Vukasinovic from Gazimestan (KoSSev)
Sacir Ljutvija sentenced to 10 years in prison for war crimes (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
New political map after the elections in Kosovo: A blow for Kurti, Serbs’ next step full of challenges (RTS)
Minister: NIS owners sent request to US OFAC to extend working licence (RTS, media)

Opinion:

Local elections resulted in an almost even division of local power (Kosovo 2.0)
Political potential and challenges of Serbian community in Kosovo: Between institutional isolation and possibility of transformation (Kosovo Online)

International:

UN chief appoints Denmark's Peter Due as head of mission in Kosovo (Anews)

Albanian Language Media

Christopher Hill testifies as defense witness in Thaci trial (media)

One of the leading stories in the media in the last two days has been the testimony of retired US diplomat Christopher Hill as a defense witness in the trial against former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in the Hague. Hill said that Thaci did not have a decision-making role in the former Kosovo Liberation Army and that he was not the leader of the guerilla force. He argued that Thaci was not in a position to make decisions on behalf of the KLA during the talks in Rambouillet and that he was not a commander but “he had had to ask the commanders in Kosovo in order to express a position”.

Asked why he decided to testify in Thaci’s defense, Hill said he has no reason to believe that Thaci took part in war crimes or that he gave such orders. “Now time does not heal all wounds, but I think that 25 years is a long time to think about things and first of all I have no reason to believe that Mr. Thaci was involved in such activities. I have no reason to believe, and I did not hear at the time that he had ordered such activities or illegal acts. And from what I understand he has been held in prison for a certain period of time related to these matters. So I felt that when this was asked from me – I did not contact people, people contacted me – and I felt that I had to say what I know about the situation,” Hill said.

Recalling his first meeting with Thaci in 1998, Hill described him as a person that spoke softly and that he had the impression “that belonged more in a university setting than a military environment”. Hill also described the former Kosovo Liberation Army as an organization without a vertical structure or hierarchical organization.

Asked by the defense about claims made by then Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic that Thaci had taken part in killings, Hill said “not only did I think that Thaci was not the person that Milosevic had described, but I also did not hear this from anyone, and I think it is important to understand all of this, because throughout that time I was in contact with President Ibrahim Rugova, and he was in a position to denounce people by their names, but he did not do that”.

Hoxhaj on Hill’s testimony: History unites those that believed in a free Kosovo (Express)

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, commented on former US diplomat Christopher Hill’s testimony as a defense witness in the trial against Hashim Thaci, saying that it is a sign of the enduring friendship between Kosovo and the United States of America. “History unites those that believed in a free Kosovo. Ambassador Christopher Hill, a great friend and supporter of Kosovo, 10 years ago invited me to Denver University for a lecture where we talked about the state-building and challenges of Kosovo. Yesterday and today, he is testifying in the Hague in defense of President Thaci – proof of the enduring friendship between Kosovo and the United States of America and our unstoppable path toward justice and international consolidation,” Hoxhaj said in a Facebook post.

CEC: Some ballots were printed with technical errors (media)

Kosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC) issued a press release on Monday evening after the vote count in Mitrovica South was suspended. The CEC said that after receiving information from the municipal election commissions in Mitrovica South and Gjakova, it concluded that some ballots were printed with an error, namely polling station code. The CEC said it contacted the company responsible for printing the ballots and that the latter acknowledged the possibility of a technical error in the mechanical printer that seals the variable data and confirmed that it will prepare an official explanation on this issue in the coming days. “The CEC assures the public, voters, and all stakeholders in the electoral process that this technical error does not affect the integrity of voting or vote counting, as the ballots contain multiple security elements that prevent them from being falsified or copied,” the CEC press release notes.

Krasniqi: We will submit complaint to ECAP about ballots in Mitrovica (media)

Most news websites report that leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi said today this party will file a complaint with the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) about the case involving ballots in Mitrovica South. “Since last night, immediately after receiving information from our commissioners in Mitrovica about concerns regarding the integrity of the election process there, we have taken all the necessary steps to protect the will of the people. The concerns that were expressed are serious and as such we are addressing them to all respective instances and addresses. Today, the Democratic Party of Kosovo will submit, in line with the legal deadline, its official complaint at the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel … We believe that every vote is the voice of the citizens and the foundation of our democracy. Therefore, when there are doubts or uncertainties in the process, it is a right and legal duty for them to be reviewed carefully and fully by the respective institutions. Without preempting the final result, the PDK calls for every procedure to be treated with transparency, justice and according to law, so that the trust of the citizens in the elections process can remain full. Votes are sacred in a democracy and the PDK is determined to protect the integrity of elections and the true will of the voters with responsibility, calm and the full conviction that the truth will come to light,” he said.

PDK wants a revote in the mayoral runoff election for Mitrovica South (media)

Most news websites report that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), in a press conference today, has called for a revote in the mayoral runoff election in the municipality of Mitrovica South. PDK MP Perparim Gruda told reporters that their commissioners have come across irregularities in the process and that they will complain to the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel today and call for a revote. “We will send the case to ECAP today and we will call for the prosecution to administer the cameras that were in the classroom. We want a revote in Mitrovica. This is what we will request from ECAP too,” he said.

“Yesterday our commissioners noticed irregularities. The ballots were moved from one classroom to another, and from one school to another. Two CEC members went to the site. Moving ballots from one classroom to another or from one school to another must not happen,” he said.

Gruda also said that the fact that Mitrovica is the only municipality where the turnout in the runoff election was bigger than in the first round adds to doubts about an irregular election process.

Osmani on Vukasinovic’s abduction: A crime and serious provocation (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said today that Milan Vukasinovic, a Serb from Kosovo, was abducted by Serbian forces inside the territory of Kosovo. “This is a murder attempt by Serbia’s institutions against Kosovo. It is a serious crime and provocation which shows that Serbia continues to act against our sovereignty,” she said.

Osmani said that immediately after the incident she was in close contact with QUINT representatives and Kosovo’s respective institutions. She also said that Kosovo’s ambassador to Serbia has not been allowed to visit Vukasinovic and that this is another serious violation of the rights of the people of Kosovo. “As President, from day one, I have been in contact with representatives of the QUINT countries, and other representatives, about what happened with Serbia’s grave violation. Our representative in Belgrade, Ambassador Jashari, tried to visit the wounded on several occasions, but the hospital there has allowed him to do that. According to our information, the wounded person is in grave health condition. Our institutions are communicating with the family of the wounded person, our citizen, and also with all witnesses who saw what happened. This is a flagrant violation and an attempt to intimidate our citizens. Serbia must be held accountable for this,” she said.

Lawyer: 23 bullet casings were found near Vukanovic’s vehicle (KSP)

Ivan Ninic, attorney for the family of Milan Vukasinovic, a Kosovo Serb who was wounded and abducted by Serbian forces, said that 23 bullet casings were found near Vukasinovic’s vehicle. In a post on X today, Ninic said he has addressed the Prosecution of Prokuplje in Serbia with the request that fear, and intimidation should not be allowed to obstruct the investigations into the case. He also said that investigative authorities should also take the testimony of Dalibor Sedlar, a lieutenant with the third center of the Serbian Military Intelligence Agency, who according to him, has important information about what happened. “Yesterday, 23 bullet casings were found near Milan Vukasinovic’s vehicle, which speaks about the level of the ambush against him! This is a case that requires institutional courage. I asked the prosecutor not to be afraid, but to talk with lieutenant Sedlar, who showed courage and professional integrity,” Ninic said.

Kurti visits Institute for Crimes Committed During the War in Kosovo (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the Institute for Crimes Committed during the War in Kosovo (ICCW) on Monday, where he was welcomed by Executive Director Atdhe Hetemi, on the occasion of the presentation of the Institute’s annual work report. Hetemi briefed Kurti on the achievements and progress made in documenting, archiving, and conducting scientific research on crimes committed during the war in Kosovo. “Director Hetemi emphasized that during the 2024–2025 period, the ICCW has taken important steps toward institutional and professional consolidation, strengthened its legal and methodological foundation, and significantly expanded its archival collection, which now contains over 400 linear meters of hard copy material and 20.6 terabytes of digital data, collected from more than 650 different sources across 14 countries. Among other highlights, he mentioned the development of the war victims’ database, the launch of the three-year project ‘Memory of the Massacres in Kosovo’, and the organization of the Institute’s first international conference, which brought together over 200 researchers from universities and institutes such as New York University, Westminster University, Dublin City University, and others. Prime Minister Kurti thanked Hetemi and his staff for their daily work and hospitality. He recalled that during his visit last year, the Institute had 23 employees, while the number has now grown to 39, along with a considerable increase in archival material. He noted that the Institute’s two-year anniversary finds it with six regional offices—in Peja, Gjakova, Prizren, Ferizaj, Gjilan, and Mitrovica—and stressed the importance of the ICCW both for the institutionalization of collective memory and for the full uncovering of historical truth,” a press release issued by Kurti’s office notes.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/23yuap3e

Haradinaj on Veterans Day: American heroes are Kosovo’s heroes too (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said today that on November 11 – the Veterans Day, we remember the courage and sacrifice of war veterans of the United States of America. “Our people remain forever grateful for their service, which protected freedom and peace in the world, but also brought freedom in Kosovo. American heroes are Kosovo’s heroes too. God bless Kosovo and the United States!” Haradinaj said in a Facebook post.

“Serbia appoints candidate who withdrew from race in Kllokot as mayor of parallel municipality” (RFE)

The Serbian government appointed on Monday Srecko Spasic as mayor of the Serb parallel municipality in Viti, several days after he withdrew from the race for mayor of Kllokot in the November 9 mayoral runoff elections in Kosovo and to support the candidate of the Serbian List. Spasic was appointed as head of the so-called Provisional Municipal Body of the municipality of Viti despite the fact that this Serbian-run structure was closed by Kosovo’s authorities early this year. Kosovo considers as illegal all provisional municipal bodies and institutions of Serbia in its territory. Belgrade meanwhile refuses to close these institutions and has moved the majority of them within Serbia’s territory. The decision of the Serbian government to appoint Spasic was published on the Serbian Official Gazette on Monday, and it was taken on November 6, three days after Spasic withdrew from the race and called on his supporters to vote in favor of his opponent from the Serbian List, Bozidar Dejanovic. The Serbian List, the biggest party of Serbs in Kosovo, welcomed Spasic’s decision calling it “proof of maturity and responsibility”.

Serbian Language Media

Armistice Day in the First World War (KoSSev)

Today marks "Armistice Day" - the ending of the First World War when the Entente powers signed an armistice with Germany. Today is a non-working day in Serbia, as well as in majority Serbian areas in Kosovo, reports portal KoSSev.

The armistice in the First World War was signed on this day, November 11, 1918, in the forest near the French city of Compiegne, in a special wagon of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, and was in force until the conclusion of the final peace agreement in Versailles, on June 28, 1919.

The First World War in Serbian history occupies a special place, primarily because of the number of victims that the Kingdom of Serbia suffered in the new battle for its freedom and because it was on the side of the victorious powers.

Serbia paid a disproportionately high price for the victory in the Great War: After the first strikes and battles, through the withdrawal of the army and the king from their country and the deadly march through the highlands of Albania, to the transfer of the army to Corfu, and until the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki front and liberation, it lost, it is estimated, between 1,100,000 and 1,300,000 inhabitants, which was almost a third of the total population, or even about 60% of the male population.

Since 2012, Serbia has been marking this day by wearing a badge that represents a combination of the Order of the Albanian Memorial, which was worn by all members of the Serbian army who retreated through Albania in the winter of 1915/1916, and Natalie's ramonda, a plant with multiple symbols for the Serbian people.

This plant, also known as the phoenix flower, is an endemic species from Kajmakcalan, where one of the most important battles of the First World War took place, and has an amazing ability to come back to life after being completely dried up, and just one drop of water is enough to bring it back to life.

Commemoration in Serbia

Yesterday on the eve of Armistice Day, as in previous years, an honorary artillery fire was carried out at Kalemegdan in the Serbian capital by firing ten volleys from six artillery pieces.

Today follows the official celebration of the Day with a series of ceremonies, wreath-laying and tributes.

Serbian PM Djuro Macut laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero in Avala. At the same time, at 11 a.m., a state wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the memorial ossuary of the defenders of Belgrade in the First World War. The state ceremony will be led by Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, Minister of Labor, Employment of Veterans and Social Affairs. Also, a delegation from the City of Belgrade will attend the ceremony of laying wreaths and honoring.

Armistice Day is celebrated at the same time in all the capitals of the victorious countries, such as, in addition to Serbia, Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, the USA, New Zealand, and Belgium.

Pristina

The ceremony dedicated to honoring the victims of the First and other wars was held yesterday in Pristina, organized by the British Embassy.

The British ambassador, Jonathan Hargreaves, the commander of KFOR, Ozkan Ulutash, and the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, as well as acting Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci. They laid wreaths at the memorial to British soldiers who died while serving in Kosovo.

"Today in Pristina we held a memorial service for all those who died and suffered in wars and conflicts. We paid tribute to those who gave and lost their lives in Kosovo and around the world. We prayed for comfort for those who remained and for inspiration to strive for peace and reconciliation in this region and around the world. Today, and every day, we will remember them," said Hargreaves.

In her statement, Osmani focused on those soldiers who lost their lives in Kosovo.

They are, she said, a strong bridge of connection and proof of the permanent friendship between Kosovo and Britain.

"Fourteen British soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the mission in Kosovo are praised as a strong bridge of connection and proof of lasting friendship between Kosovo and the UK. We will honor them on every anniversary, as a reminder of the difficult road to freedom, and also as a sign of gratitude for the decisive role of the UK on our road to freedom, independence and nation-building."

Every year, representatives of the French and German embassies in Pristina gathered to jointly mark the Armistice Day in the First World War.

So far, these embassies have not announced their activities for today.

Remembering the monument moving

Apart from the Armistice, on this day the Serbs in Kosovo remember the scandal, from two years ago, when it was noticed that in the military part of the Orthodox cemetery in Pristina, the monument dedicated to the Serbian soldiers who died in the First World War was no longer in its place, recalls KoSSev portal.

Years ago, the French and German ambassadors in Pristina, in this very part of the cemetery, where there is also a monument to fallen French soldiers, together marked the reconciliation of the two former enemies. Two years ago, they did it by moving the monument dedicated to Serbian soldiers.

Further tensions rose after their joint statement that the monument had been "moved only a few meters to the side", with "the utmost respect" and that "no body was moved", reported KoSSev.

After an avalanche of criticism and condemnation from the Serbian public, the French embassy issued a new statement, announcing that together with all parties, they will consider the technical possibilities so that "all the monuments in the military part of the cemetery are placed the way they were before".

Almost a month later, the monument was returned in cooperation with the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and the French Embassy.

KoSSev writes that this year's Armistice Day is celebrated at a time of severe global political crises. The war in Ukraine has not subsided for the fourth year. At the same time, the Middle East, after the one-year conflict in Gaza, despite the signing of a series of agreements on ceasefire and restoration of trust, still remains an area of fragile stability, where tensions are still high and peace is uncertain.

Serbian MFA: Today we remember immense sacrifices of Serbian people during WWI (media, social media)

On Armistice Day in World War I, Serbia does not only mark the signing of the armistice in 1918 but also remembers with deep respect the immense sacrifices made by the Serbian people during that conflict, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia said in a statement posted on X social platform.

“With almost one-third of its population lost, Serbia remains the country that suffered the greatest losses per capita in World War I”, the statement recalls.

The Ministry emphasizes that the central motif of the commemoration is the stylized ribbon of the Medal for Loyalty to the Fatherland from 1915, better known as the Albanian Commemorative Medal, which symbolizes sacrifice, perseverance, and the suffering endured by the Serbian army during its retreat across Albania.

In the composition of Armistice Day, the flower of Natalie's Ramonda dominates, representing a powerful symbol of resurrection and resistance. This plant, which can revive even after complete desiccation, serves as a metaphor for Serbia’s renewal and the indomitable spirit of its soldiers, the statement added.

“This symbol connects the past and the present, personal and collective memory, tradition and modernity, reminding us that courage, freedom, and perseverance are enduring values that unite the people and preserve the spirit of Serbia through time”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia said.

Srecko Spasic appointed head of Vitina provisional authority, functioning within Serbian system (Radio KIM)

Serbian Government has appointed Srecko Spasic, mayoral candidate in the first round of local elections in Klokot as the head of Vitina Interim Municipal Authority functioning within the Serbian system. Spasic withdrew his candidacy in early November and joined the Serbian List along with all members and councillors from his Serbian People’s Unity initiative, Radio KIM reported.

The Interim Municipal Authority is not functioning in Vitina, as it was closed at the beginning of this year as part of Kosovo Government action to close all provisional bodies and other Serbian institutions in Kosovo. Official Belgrade responded to these acts by relocating affected institutions outside of Kosovo.

Serbian Government’s decision to appoint Srecko Spasic to the new function was published in the Serbian Official Gazette on November 10, and made on November 6, three days after Spasic withdrew his candidacy from mayoral run-off elections in Klokot.

Serbian List welcomed Spasic’s decision to join them. In a run-off mayoral election in Klokot, Serbian List candidate Bozidar Dejanovic won the race, with more than 90 percent votes in support. Spasic competed as a second candidate formally only, as the Central Election Commission refused to acknowledge his withdrawal citing deadline expiration for such decisions.

Lawyer Ninic: "23 more shell casings found near Vukasinovic's car"; Sarovic published a video of Vukasinovic from Gazimestan (KoSSev)

"On Sunday, another 23 shell casings were found near Milan Vukasinovic's car", lawyer Ivan Ninic announced again on X, who for days has been providing details about the case of "the wounded Serb", who, according to Ninic was "wounded, abducted and taken from the territory of Kosovo, on the administrative line itself, at the so-called 'zero point'". Allegedly he is currently in a hospital in Nis, where doctors are fighting for his life, reported portal KoSSev.

KoSSev recalls that on November 3, Serbian lawyer Ninic was the first to alert the public via social networks about the incident that allegedly took place on November 1 in the village of Jelakce in the municipality of Leposavic. According to his statements, Vukasinovic was seriously wounded and kidnapped, and after the incident he was transferred to the Clinical Center in Nis.

Two days after the incident, the KP confirmed that "several masked persons entered the territory of Kosovo, wounded Vukasinovic and took him to the territory of Serbia''. KFOR was informed, and the investigation is led by the Directorate for Organized Crime and Serious Crimes, which heard witnesses.

In the meantime, Ninic filed a criminal complaint against, as he claims, members of ''the Serbian Armed Forces, the police or "Milan R. 's group", for the criminal offense of "Attempted aggravated murder".

He also published the name and surname of the man he claims was "bait" for Vukasinovic, as well as photos of the destroyed vehicle, describing the whole case as "Banjska 2".

Ninic announced again yesterday, stating that ''23 shell casings were found near Milan Vukasinovic's car on Sunday'', reported KoSSev.

Portal recalls that lawyer Ninic stated that he received ''threats through the 'Corridor' Telegram channel'', because of his daily reporting on the case of ''the wounded Vukasinovic''.

Sarovic published a video of Vukasinovic from Gazimestan

The presenter, representative of the party and leader of the "Love, Faith, Hope" movement, Nemanja Sarovic, spoke about the whole case.

He shared his interview with the wounded Vukasinovic, which was recorded this year, on Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day), in Gazimestan. Vukasinovic told him in this interview that he does not travel to Serbia "because of the regime".

"They invented all sorts of things about me. They connected me with Albanians and that. I'm not safe to travel to Serbia. I'm only here in Kosovo, I'm bypassing Serbia. I don't try, because I don't know what it can grow into."

He said that he did not leave Kosovo's institutions when the majority of Serbs in the north did.

"I stayed. I work in Jarinje, on the Kosovo side - I was connected to everything because of that, and that's why I don't feel safe going to Serbia," said Vukasinovic at the time, reported KoSSev.

Sacir Ljutvija sentenced to 10 years in prison for war crimes (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)

The basic court in Pristina sentenced Sacir Lutvija to 10 years in prison for the war crimes against the civilian population, reported Kosovo Online.

The time spent in prison will count towards his sentence, and Lutvija is obliged to pay the costs of the court process.

Former member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia Sacir Lutvija has been in custody since October 2023.

He was accused of violating international law and committing a war crime against the civilian population in Prizren in the period from 1998 to 1999.

New political map after the elections in Kosovo: A blow for Kurti, Serbs’ next step full of challenges (RTS)

The second round of local elections in Kosovo ended, leaving the Serbian List with the largest number of municipalities. The Vetevendosje Movement and the LDK will form the government in seven each. The local elections brought changes to the party map of Albanians, which may also mean a different distribution of forces if central elections are held in December, the third this year, reported RTS today.

In Gracanica, Klokot, Partes, Ranilug, Strpce, Novo Brdo, the SL retained the position they had, and in North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok, they will once again have the mayors of municipalities, three years after they collectively left institutions. The first step in restoring governance in the areas in the north was successful, and the next one may be full of challenges, reported RTS.

“As long as Albin Kurti is in power in Pristina, he will continue the policy that diminishes the rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, including the derogation of local self-government. It should be expected that Kurti, for as long as he can, will drag Serbs through ‘the eyes of a needle’ in northern Kosovo and make the work of newly elected mayors as difficult as possible by supervising their work, as well as revising and overturning decisions made by these new local government structures,” said analyst Ognjen Gogic.

After the first round of elections on October 12 and the second round held on Sunday, all Albanian parties declared victory. Analysts believe that the local elections created a new political map. The loss in Pristina is a blow to Albin Kurti’s movement, which may be an indicator of changes in voter preferences at the central level.

“He cannot gather enough of his own votes like in the February elections; Kurti must either join a coalition or cede power to the opposition. Now his support will probably fall – he will not have 48, but about 40 MPs, maybe even less. This will make it much easier for the opposition to form an alternative,” said analyst Shkelzen Maliqi noted.

Due to his arrogant attitude towards other parties and the months-long blockade of central institutions, Kurti’s party appeared alone against everyone in the local elections. Analysts explain that in Pristina, the LDK candidate defeated the Vetëvendosje candidate, thanks to the votes of supporters of the PDK and the AAK. The informal alliance of the three former opposition parties in Pristina may be a hint of their unification at the central level, if new parliamentary elections are held soon.

Minister: NIS owners sent request to US OFAC to extend working licence (RTS, media)

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said today the Russian majority owners of the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) sent a request to the US OFAC to extend the working licence on the grounds of negotiations with a third party, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported.

As the Minister said in a post on Instagram, the Russian owners said they are ready to hand over control and influence over the NIS company to the third party.

“The state of Serbia has officially supported this request. OFAC has already reacted with certain comments and we hope that it will present its position within the week. Time is running out and a solution must be found, but citizens must not suffer and be left without fuel. That will not and must not happen", she said in a post.

Following several-months postponement the US imposed sanctions on NIS on October 9, over Russian-majority ownership of this company.

Opinion

Local elections resulted in an almost even division of local power (Kosovo 2.0)

Opinion by Uran Haxha.

Kosovo’s local elections resulted in new mayors and a shift in power in seven municipalities.

More than 430,000 citizens voted for a second time on Sunday, November 9, in 18 Kosovo municipalities, where mayoral runoff contests were held. The first round of elections on October 12 had produced outright winners in 20 municipalities — who earned more than 50% of the vote — making this Sunday’s runoff decisive for the remaining cities that did not have a majority.

In several municipalities, the results were largely predictable given the wide gaps in the first round of voting. Meanwhile, the fiercest contests took place in Prishtina and South Mitrovica, where candidates were separated by very narrow margins. The race was also tight in Fushë Kosovë, where the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which had held the seat for 25 years, faced a serious challenge from Vetëvendosje (VV).

The competitive race in South Mitrovica led to higher voter turnout than in the first round, resulting in a change in power.

Kosovo’s municipalities ended up being divided almost evenly among political parties: VV and LDK will each govern seven municipalities; the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will lead six; the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) will govern five; while Srpska Lista (LS) regained control in the ten Serb-majority municipalities. The other, smaller parties will lead the remaining three municipalities.

The second round of local elections unfolded amid an institutional deadlock. Eight months after the February parliamentary elections, Albin Kurti of VV failed to secure the necessary votes to form a government. This week, VV’s second nominee, Glauk Konjufca, is expected to make another attempt to earn the required votes.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mpdmx67w

Political potential and challenges of Serbian community in Kosovo: Between institutional isolation and possibility of transformation (Kosovo Online)

By Miodrag Milicevic, Aktiv Executive Director

A years-long institutional and political crisis between the central authorities in Pristina and the Serbian community in Kosovo has led to a deep erosion of trust, the creation of a functional vacuum in Serb-majority municipalities and increasing social fragmentation. Relations between Kosovo Government and the Serbian community, particularly in the four northern municipalities, have further deteriorated in recent years, reflecting a long history of mutual mistrust and disputes over political legitimacy.

While the Kosovo Government interprets its actions as the exercise of sovereign authority and the consolidation of territorial integrity, the Serbian community perceives them as discriminatory and exclusionary - especially when implemented without institutional guarantees, transparency, or consultation with the local population. This divergence in perceptions has created a lasting cycle of alienation and confrontation that undermines society’s capacity for dialogue, compromise, and institutional mediation.

A key turning point occurred in November 2022, when the regional commander of the Kosovo police in the north was dismissed for refusing to enforce punitive measures against drivers with Serbian license plates.