Albanian Language Media:

• LVV nominates Albin Kurti for prime minister in December 28 elections (media)
• Basha, Prattipati discuss political developments and RTK workers salaries (media)
• Memli Krasniqi will not run for MP in December 28 elections (media)
• PDK forms pre-election coalition with the Family List (media)
• EU: Serbia violating obligations by opposing Kosovo Interpol membership (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Szijjarto: Hungary's MOL to increase oil exports to Serbia by two and a half times (Tanjug, media)
• EU: Serbia violates obligations due to opposition to Kosovo's membership in Interpol; Petkovic: Pristina trampling on dialogue and refusing to form the CSM (KoSSev) 
• Dacic: The EU violates everything when it comes to Serbia — Where does it get the nerve to criticize? (Kosovo Online)
• Sasa Mirkovic convicted for threatening voters to vote for Serbian List (KiM radio)

International Media:

• Pressures shaping the digital space in the region discussed at BIRN conference (PI)

Albanian Language Media

LVV nominates Albin Kurti for prime minister in December 28 elections (media)

The Vetevendosje Movement has announced Albin Kurti as its candidate for prime minister for the early parliamentary elections on December 28. He was voted in during the party’s 61st meeting. “We are beginning a new chapter that starts with the current campaign, is sealed with the December 28 elections, and is implemented over the next four years through Vetevendosje’s governance,” Kurti told members of the General Council.

According to him, the pandemic situation made the two years of governing an extraordinary period. He also spoke about Serbia and the impact of the Ukraine–Russia war on Kosovo. “This mandate we will begin with Kosovo’s digital currency, which, based on blockchain and created by the state, will be used for payments. Its creation opens new opportunities for innovation and creates an ecosystem for innovators. With this, we place Kosovo at the center of the latest technological developments,” Kurti promised.

The party’s deputy leader, Glauk Konjufca, said he nominated Kurti, considering him Kosovo’s democratic leader. “I will nominate the most-voted individual by our people in the history of our parliamentary democracy. The most deserving in leading the Vetevendosje Movement, the true leader of social and democratic transformation, the most successful prime minister of our Republic, Albin Kurti,” Konjufca stated.

Basha and Prattipati discuss political developments and RTK workers’ salaries (media)

The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Dimal Basha, met on Wednesday with the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Anu Prattipati. They discussed recent developments in Kosovo and the political situation, including the issue of salaries for RTK workers.

According to the Assembly’s announcement, Basha expressed regret that several important issues were not voted on in the Assembly, including international agreements, municipal budgets, the budget law, as well as the RTK report, which would have enabled a solution to the salary issue for the employees. It is further emphasized that part of the discussion focused on the electoral process in Kosovo, the importance of free and fair elections, and mutual respect among political entities. “Kosovo has proven that it organizes regular electoral processes, and our citizens have consistently demonstrated a high democratic culture,” Basha said.

The Speaker also expressed gratitude for the continuous support of the United States, Kosovo’s valued ally, and what he called “a permanent model for democratic values and standards.”

Memli Krasniqi will not run for MP in December 28 elections (media)

Former PDK leader Memli Krasniqi has announced that he will not be a candidate for Member of Parliament in the December 28 elections. “Today, by decision of the Presidency of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, I have taken on the responsibility to lead the party’s election campaign as the Head of the Central Election Headquarters, on our path toward victory on December 28. These elections are an opportunity to restore normality, stability, and development to the country. PDK enters this process more prepared, united, and fully ready to give the country the direction it deserves. In this campaign, I will be fully committed to our campaign, our team, our structures, and our shared victory. Therefore, after seven terms as a Member of the Assembly of Kosovo, this time I have decided not to be part of our electoral list,” Krasniqi wrote on Facebook.

PDK forms pre-election coalition with the Family List (media)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has formed a pre-election and post-election coalition with the political group Family List. PDK leader Bedri Hamza said the coalition aims to promote progress in key areas such as the economy, justice, education, health, energy, security, and family welfare. Candidates from the Family List will be included in PDK’s joint electoral list. Family List leader Eman Rrahmani welcomed the agreement, saying it ensures their candidates are represented and that they feel respected by their coalition partners.

EU: Serbia is violating its obligations by opposing Kosovo’s membership in Interpol (Koha)

The European Union considers that Serbia is violating its obligations stemming from the process of normalizing relations with Kosovo and from agreements reached in the dialogue by opposing Kosovo’s membership in Interpol. This was stated by an EU spokesperson, reacting to reports from Serbia that the country’s Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, has boasted that Serbia continues to oppose Kosovo’s admission to this organization and that, according to him, “Kosovo has no chance whatsoever of becoming part of Interpol.”

Dacic also said that Kosovo had “failed badly in previous attempts to become a member of Interpol” and that now “it is clear that it has no chances, therefore it’s not even trying.”

“Serbia’s progress on its European path depends on its efforts to fully implement the obligations from the 2023 normalization agreement. By opposing in principle Kosovo’s membership in Interpol, Serbia is in violation of its obligations under the Ohrid Agreement, Article 4 of the agreement,” the EU spokesperson said.

However, the EU has still not specified what consequences Serbia might face for such behavior, even though it considers it a violation. Several EU member states have often expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of measures against Serbia, while the European Commission continues to maintain measures against Kosovo. Such an approach by some EU countries has been described as “unbalanced,” Koha reports.

“As for the Growth Plan, the prerequisites related to progress in normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo are assessed whenever payment requests are made, in accordance with the regulation,” the spokesperson added.

Serbia has received the first payment from the growth package in the form of “pre-financing.” Kosovo has not yet benefited from it, because it has not ratified the credit agreement with the EU.

Serbian Language Media

Szijjarto: Hungary's MOL to increase oil exports to Serbia by two and a half times (Tanjug, media)

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto announced on Wednesday in Belgrade the Hungarian oil company MOL would increase its crude oil exports to Serbia by two and a half times and noted that his country would use all available means to help keep Serbia supplied with crude oil "regardless of the circumstances".

"Count on that, Serbian friends," Szijjarto told reporters after a meeting with Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic at the Palace of Serbia.

Szijjarto also said, among other things, that Hungary and Serbia advocated the adoption of a peace plan for Ukraine.

"Together with the Serbian government, we stand firmly behind the peace efforts of Mr (Donald) Trump," Szijjarto told reporters after a meeting with Serbian FM Marko Djuric.

He said Hungary believed that, unless the peace plan was adopted, the situation would be worsening permanently.

EU: Serbia violates obligations due to opposition to Kosovo's membership in Interpol; Petkovic: Pristina trampling on dialogue and refusing to form the CSM (KoSSev) 

"Serbia violates its obligations from the process of normalization of relations with Kosovo and the agreement from the dialogue by opposing Kosovo's membership in Interpol," the EU said to Koha, after the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, stated that there is no possibility for Kosovo to be a member of this organization. 

The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, reacted to the allegations.

Belgrade, according to his words, "does not violate any obligations", because, as he said, it was the only one in the dialogue committed to normalization and the agreements reached.

"For 13 years, Pristina refused to implement the Brussels Agreement and form the CSM (ZSO), and by terrorizing the Serbs, it trampled on the dialogue every day. Neither Kurti nor the EU spokesperson wants to talk about it. For the smart, this is enough!"

KoSSev reported that the Vice-President of the Government of Serbia and the Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic was awarded the Medal of Special Rank, the highest award given by Interpol to the Ministers of the Interior for exceptional contribution in the field of security cooperation. Dacic was presented with this recognition in Marrakesh, Morocco, at the ceremonial opening of the 93rd session of the Interpol General Assembly.

Dacic: The EU violates everything when it comes to Serbia — Where does it get the nerve to criticize? (Kosovo Online)

Reacting to a statement by one of the European Union (EU) spokespersons that “by opposing Kosovo’s membership in Interpol, Serbia is violating its obligations under the normalization process,” Serbia’s Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic told Kosovo Online that the EU, when it comes to Serbia, violates everything — from territorial integrity to the failure to establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.

Dacic said that the statement by the EU spokesperson, as reported by Koha, was likely made by a young person who may not remember everything the EU has violated in relation to Serbia.

“First, the territorial integrity of Serbia; then UN Security Council Resolution 1244; then the UN General Assembly Resolution on the technical and status-neutral dialogue in Brussels. And finally, the Brussels Agreement,” Dacic stated.

He asked where the EU gets “the audacity to criticize Serbia and pointed out that Kosovo has not even applied for Interpol membership”.

“As long as you fail to implement the 2013 Brussels Agreement — which you also signed — and fail to establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, where do you get the nerve to criticize Serbia for defending its territorial integrity?! Moreover, so-called Kosovo has not even applied for Interpol membership, because it knows it won’t pass — even with your cheerleading and pressure on other countries to vote for it, as was the case a few years ago,” Dacic said.

The EU spokesperson stated that Serbia’s progress on its path toward EU membership depends on fully implementing the obligations under the 2023 normalization agreement.

“By opposing in principle Kosovo’s membership in Interpol, Serbia is violating its obligations under the Ohrid Agreement, Article 4,” the spokesperson said.

Sasa Mirkovic convicted for threatening voters to vote for Serbian List (KiM radio)

The Basic Court in Pristina announced a guilty verdict against Sasa Mirkovic, the former deputy mayor of Klokot, by which he was sentenced to one year in prison for violating the free choice of voters, reported KiM radio.

The verdict against Mirkovic was announced yesterday by the presiding judge, Lutfi Shala, reported KiM radio, citing "Oath for Justice".

The court sentenced Mirkovic to an additional penalty - a ban on performing functions in public administration or public service for a period of 2 years. The court ordered the defendant to pay the amount of 100 euros in court costs, 100 euros in the name of a lump sum court fee and 100 euros to the Victim Compensation Fund.

International Media

Pressures shaping the digital space in the region discussed at BIRN conference (PI)

The second day of BIRN’s conference dedicated to digital rights and freedom highlighted a shared reality across the region: laws can protect digital rights, but they can also be turned into instruments of control.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network hosted the second day of its three-day conference dedicated to digital rights and internet freedom, within the framework of preparing the annual report on “Digital Rights Violations 2024–2025,” with panel discussions and trainings focusing on the legal, political, and technological pressures shaping the digital space in the region.

The day started with the discussion panel on Digital Legislation and Hybrid Regimes – Reform, Regulation, and the Weaponisation of Law.

This panel was about how hybrid regimes in South East Europe turn laws and regulations into tools of control, reshaping digital spaces and restricting civic freedoms. 

Speakers also discussed how EU integration processes influence legal harmonisation and the protection of digital rights in candidate countries.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/odFeU