UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 18, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: We are proud of improvement of population’s well-being (RTK)
Rohde: Submit EU draft to Constitutional Court, and Kosovo will be in CoE (Klan)
Businesses disconnected by KEDS (media)
When are conditions met to begin dismissal procedure in the ‘Laban case’? (Telegrafi)
A person arrested at Merdare border point on suspicion of war crimes (media)
“Building owned by SL candidate for Zubin Potok mayor burns down” (Klan)
Serbia remains “safe haven” for fugitives from Kosovo, legal experts say (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian List: Attack on Perovic politically motivated, we demand an urgent and independent investigation (media)
Petkovic reacts to attack on Serbian List mayoral candidate’s property in Zubin Potok, criticizes international community for lack of reaction (media, social media)
Radojevic on tournament near Milic Brothers square: Mockery of innocent victims (media)
Kompirovic: Tournament at Milic Brothers Square a clear provocation against Serbs (media)
Sinisa Spasic from Priluzje detained at Merdare crossing point under war crimes accusations (media)
Mandate of Igor Popovic concluded by decision of Serbian Government (Radio KIM, media)
Rohde on construction of two new bridges on Ibar River (Kosovo Online, media)
Vucic announces decisive actions against protestors (N1, media)
Vucevic: No need for state of emergency (media)
CoE Secretary General concerned by violent protests, urges Serbian authorities to respect right to peaceful assembly (N1, social media)
Serbian MIA: 56 detained during protests, six officers injured (N1, media)

International Media:

Serbian ruling party office set on fire as unrest continues (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: We are proud of improvement of population’s well-being (RTK)

The caretaker Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has reacted to the latest data published by the American Gallup Research Center, which has measured the perception of well-being in various countries around the world. “In this year’s Gallup Life Evaluation Index, Kosova stands out as the country with the most significant increase in reported well-being. In 2014, only 11% of the population reported that they were thriving; by last year, that figure had risen to 51%, representing more than half of the population. As a government, we are proud to have fostered an environment conducive to the prosperity of all citizens,” Kurti wrote on X platform.

Rohde: Submit EU draft to Constitutional Court, and Kosovo will be in CoE (Klan)

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, stated that Kosovo has lost this year’s opportunity to join the Council of Europe. He emphasized that Kosovo’s institutions should have submitted the EU-drafted statute of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities to the Constitutional Court, a key step toward joining the European organization. “We have said: as soon as this first step is taken, by submitting it to your court for review, we will 100 percent respect the Court’s decision. We will hold an extraordinary meeting at the Council of Europe and push for membership, and I am convinced that Kosovo will pass,” Rohde told Klan Kosova.

Rohde spoke also about the political crisis in Kosovo. “As I suggested in April, using a football analogy, if your team is not successful, replace someone from the team. I still hold the same saying, because we still face the same problem. After 55 attempts, maybe it’s time to change the team,” Rohde said. He added that political parties need a willingness to compromise. In his view, political actors should aim to solve problems, not deepen them. "No, no," he said "you should say that you respect it...not 'we should read' the Judgment...we should not leave room for speculation that someone will not respect it."

Rohde also said that local elections are approaching soon and the political climate is heating up. He added that it would make more sense to resolve traffic issues at the entrance to Vushtrri rather than build two new bridges over the Iber River. “Surely KFOR has stated on many occasions that the environment isn’t appropriate. We all aim to open the bridge, it hasn’t happened yet, but if the climate isn’t right to open one bridge, would it be wise to open two? We’ll see. The least that everyone wants to see are more actions from KFOR in the north.”

Rohde also commented on the recent visit of Michael Reiffenstuel, Director for the Western Balkans, Turkey, Council of Europe, and OSCE at Germany’s Foreign Ministry, saying the key message was that Kosovo must do its homework and establish its institutions. “Get your house in order and do it. This constitutional crisis contradicts the will of the people. You can’t be a real partner without the proper numbers on the other side.”

Businesses disconnected by KEDS (media)

The Kosovo Electricity Distribution Company (KEDS) began disconnecting businesses on Saturday that have not signed contracts with an electricity supplier. In a statement on Saturday, KEDS said it is legally unable to continue supplying electricity to companies that have not yet entered into agreements with any of the suppliers licensed by the Energy Regulatory Office.

Lulzim Krasniqi from KEDS told KosovaPress on Sunday that “the majority of over 1,400 electricity meters, identified as company property, were disconnected yesterday, around 90 percent of them have been disconnected. The remaining number will be disconnected in the coming days, if they do not reach an agreement with any of the suppliers licensed by the Energy Regulatory Office,” he said.

Numerous organizations, including the Kosovo Business Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business owners, the Kosovo Business Association, and the Kosovo Economic Chamber, as well as MPs from PDK, LDK, and AAK, have reacted strongly, warning that this poses a risk to the economy and could leave over 22,000 workers jobless.

When are conditions met to begin dismissal procedure in the ‘Laban case?' (Telegrafi)

According to the news website, caretaker Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, had anticipated that following President Vjosa Osmani's press conference, where she announced the withdrawal of her request related to the formation of the Assembly, the Constitutional Court would initiate the dismissal process for Judge Radomir Laban. This expectation was expressed during a media briefing on August 10, 2025.

However, dismissing a Constitutional Court judge in Kosovo can only proceed under very strict constitutional provisions. As outlined in Article 118 of the Constitution, such dismissal requires a proposal by two-thirds of the judges of the court, and must be for serious criminal offenses or gross neglect of official duties. These terms are elaborated in secondary legal norms, including the court’s rules of procedure and practice.

Legal experts emphasize that without a definitive criminal conviction or clear evidence of severe misconduct, the dismissal mechanism cannot be triggered. In the current case, none of those conditions appear to be present, and hence, no formal process has been launched.

Without a formal proposal from the court’s judges, no legitimate step toward dismissing Judge Laban is feasible, regardless of the political or security concerns raised by the presidential office.

A person arrested at Merdare border point on suspicion of war crimes (media)

A person has been detained for 48 hours on suspicion of committing war crimes, on Sunday, according to a statement by the Kosovo’s Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. According to the media release, investigators from the Kosovo Police, specifically from the Directorate for Investigation of War Crimes, arrested the individual with the initials S.S. at the Merdare border crossing.

In cooperation with the Special Prosecutor’s Office, authorities are undertaking all necessary investigative actions, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. “He is suspected of having committed the criminal offense ‘War crimes against the civilian population’ in the Municipality of Vushtrri during the last war in Kosovo,” the statement reads.

Within the legally prescribed deadline, the Prosecutor’s Office will submit a request to impose pre-trial detention in the Basic Court in Pristina.

“Building owned by Serbian List candidate for Zubin Potok mayor burns down” (Klan)

A building was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Sunday in Uglare, within the municipality of Zubin Potok. According to Veton Elshani, Deputy Director of Police for the northern region, the fire occurred around 4:30 a.m. The first floor, which previously housed a printing press now out of operation, was destroyed. There were no injuries, though material damage did occur. Authorities suspect the fire was intentionally set and are investigating the case as “Causing general danger.” No suspects have been identified so far. Importantly, the building belongs to Milos Perovic, who is running as the Serbian List’s candidate for mayor of Zubin Potok.

Serbia remains “safe haven” for fugitives from Kosovo, legal experts say (Telegrafi)

The news website reports that Serbia continues to provide refuge to individuals sought by Kosovar authorities. Legal experts argue this is largely due to the absence of formal judicial cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia. The nearly 400 kilometer shared border, with just six official crossing points, remains difficult to monitor effectively, enabling fugitives to evade capture by slipping into Serbia.

Refki Morina, former head of major crime investigations in Kosovo, pointed out that, lacking bilateral relations, Serbia and Kosovo do not notify each other about wanted individuals. As a result, extraditing criminals remains virtually impossible. The Kosovo Institute for Justice stressed that this pattern of impunity has persisted since 1999, intensifying after Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008. They called for international pressure to prevent Serbia from becoming a permanent haven for fugitives.

Several high-profile suspects remain at large. Among them are Enver Sekiraqa, sentenced to 25 years for inciting the murder of a police officer; Marko Rosic, convicted for his role in the murder of politician Oliver Ivanovic; Mefail Shkodra and his two sons, wanted for a triple homicide; and Xhemajl Nuhiu, connected to a recent murder. Further complicating matters, Djordje Radomirovic escaped from prison, and Faton Hajrizi, who fled to Serbia after escaping custody, was later killed by Serbian authorities.

Kosovo Police have released no official figures on the total number of fugitives, directing the public to their Facebook page and website for updates on wanted notices.

Serbian Language Media

Serbian List: Attack on Perovic politically motivated, we demand an urgent and independent investigation (media)

The Serbian List strongly condemned Saturday’s attack with an explosive device on the premises owned by their candidate for Zubin Potok mayor, Milos Perovic, stressing it was a politically motivated act of intimidation aimed at endangering the security of the Serbian people and instilling fear among the party’s candidates, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The statement said the attack caused large material damage and was clearly politically motivated, with the intention of intimidating the Serbian List’s candidates and their families as well as preventing them from fighting for the interests of the Serbian people.

“This is not the first time that some individuals have been disturbed by our call for unity, harmony, and solidarity. But we emphasize that no pressures or threats will shake our determination to defend our people and their right to live in peace and security. We demand an urgent and independent investigation of this attack, which must be carried out under the close supervision of international organizations, above all EULEX, because we have every reason to doubt both the willingness and the capacity of the Kosovo police to investigate this case in a professional and impartial manner (…)”, the statement also said.

Petkovic reacts to attack on Serbian List mayoral candidate’s property in Zubin Potok, criticizes international community for lack of reaction (media, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic, said the attack on Milos Perovic’s property, the Serbian List candidate for Zubin Potok mayor is the clearest indication of the atmosphere in which Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister and Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti is conducting his campaign for the local elections, as well as of his attitude toward the Serbian List, Kosovo Online portal reported.

As Petkovic said it was shameful that international representatives have remained silent, adding that whenever Serbs are the victims, no one reacts.

“The attack on the house of the Serbian List candidate for mayor of Zubin Potok, Milos Perovic, is the clearest sign of the atmosphere in which Kurti is conducting his campaign for the local elections and how he treats the Serbian List. It is shameful that international representatives have still not spoken out. Whenever Serbs are the victims, everyone remains silent”, Petkovic wrote in a post on X social platform.

Radojevic on tournament near Milic Brothers square: Mockery of innocent victims (media)

Near the Milic Brothers Square in North Mitrovica, preparations were underway on Sunday for a 3x3 basketball tournament announced by Mitrovica North municipality. Member of the Serbian List Presidency and former Mitrovica North mayor, Milan Radojevic, told Kosovo Online that organizing such a tournament on a square dedicated to young men who were innocently killed during the conflict in 1999 is a mockery of Serbian victims and of innocent people who lost their lives.

The planned tournament was met with disapproval from Serbs in the north, who see the event as a provocation and yet another form of pressure on the Serbian community. As Radojevic said they were horrified to hear that a basketball tournament was being organized on the Milic Brothers Square, which is dedicated to the memory of innocent Serbian youths killed in the 1999 conflict.

“Organizing such a tournament is a mockery of Serbian victims and of the innocent people who perished in this area. This is especially true considering that it is being organized by an illegitimate and illegal mayor who, in the last days of his mandate, is using the opportunity to sow division and hatred among the residents of North Mitrovica”, Radojevic said.

Some Serbian media reported earlier the announced sports tournament was supposed to be held at a recently renovated sports playground near the main Ibar River bridge, but that however, location was changed and an improvised playground installed at the bottom of Mitrovica North promenade. Kosovo Online portal reported that at the time preparations for the tournament were ongoing, a Day of Mourning was observed in the rest of Mitrovica North as declared by residents in solidarity becuase of the death of a young football player from this city who died in a traffic accident in Montenegro.

Kompirovic: Tournament at Milic Brothers Square a clear provocation against Serbs (media)

Rudar football club from Mitrovica North president, Darko Kompirovic, said the basketball tournament organized by Mitrovica North municipality at the Milic Brothers Square was a clear provocation directed against Serbs, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“With indignation and concern, we react to the announcement of a basketball tournament with music and entertainment at the Milic Brothers Square – a place dedicated to the memory of three innocent young men who lost their lives. This is not a sporting event, but a clear provocation directed against Serbs in North Mitrovica”, Kompirovic said in a statement to the media.

“While entertainment is being organized at places of grief and pain, for three months now our clubs, athletes, and citizens have been denied access to the Sports Hall, preventing them from practicing sports and living normally. Such actions are a thorn in the side and a provocation, especially to our children, who have been deprived of their sports facilities, while events are organized at sites of tragedy with the aim of humiliating the Serbian people”, he emphasized. Kompirovic also called for a clear reaction from the European Union, KFOR, and other international organizations present in Kosovo.

Sinisa Spasic from Priluzje detained at Merdare crossing point under war crimes accusations (media)

Kosovo police detained Sinisa Spasic, from Priluzje village, near Obilic, employed at Serbian Electro Company (EPS) over as Kosovo special prosecution said war crimes in Vucitrn, Kosovo Online portal reported. Danijela Spasic, his daughter, confirmed that her father was arrested on Sunday, adding that police did not allow her and her mother, Sinisa’s wife, to speak with him.

“My mother and I received a call from the police station in Podujevo. They informed us that my father was arrested today and is currently staying in Podujevo. He was sent to 48-hour detention”, Danijela Spasic told the portal on Sunday. She also said she asked the police if she could talk to him, but her request was rejected.

Mandate of Igor Popovic concluded by decision of Serbian Government (Radio KIM, media)

Igor Popovic, who was recently arrested in Kosovo over his remarks about KLA and crimes against Serbs in Kosovo is no longer performing the function of Assistant Director in the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. The Serbian Government made a decision concluding his mandate, KoSSev portal reported.

The decision was made in a session held on August 13. It remains unclear why his mandate concluded, the portal added.

"It is noted that Igor Popović's duties as acting assistant director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija are terminated", reads the decision of the Serbian Government. Now a former assistant to Petar Petkovic, Popovic worked in the sector for legal protection, local self-government support and property-legal affairs in Kosovo.

Rohde on construction of two new bridges on Ibar River (Kosovo Online, media)

As Kosovo Online reported German Ambassador in Pristina, Jorn Rohde, questioned whether it is the right time to construct additional bridges over the Ibar River, noting that the current situation requires de-escalation rather than escalation. He pointed out that it would be better to resolve traffic problems at the entrance to Vucitrn.

“So, what I mean is, when we went to Mitrovica - you know the road - I would say that it would be more important to resolve the daily traffic jams around Vushtrri than to build two bridges. That would be important to ease transportation”, Rohde said. He recalled that KFOR had repeatedly stated the climate was not favorable for opening the bridge.

“We all intend to open the bridge, that has not happened, but if the climate is not right for opening one bridge, is it right to open two bridges? We will see. The last thing anyone wants to see is more KFOR action in the north”, Rohde is quoted as saying in an interview with Info Magazine on Klan Kosova.

International Media

Serbian ruling party office set on fire as unrest continues (Balkan Insight)

Anti-government protesters in the western city of Valjevo set fire to a ruling Serbian Progressive Party office and attacked City Hall and judiciary buildings as they demonstrated against alleged police brutality amid escalating unrest.

Unrest erupted for an eighth consecutive night in cities across Serbia on Saturday, with major incidents in Valjevo, where protesters say they have been subjected to violent police tactics in previous days.

Protesters from other cities were urged by organizers to travel to Valjevo to show support on Saturday. After a peaceful demonstration, a group of people broke windows and set fire to the local office of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, SNS. They also broke windows at Valjevo City Hall and at the local court and the Higher and Basic Prosecutor’s Offices.