Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti calls on diaspora to register: Four minutes of your time, four decisive years for Kosovo (media)

• CEC awaits legal deadlines for certification of Serbian List (RTK)

• Cedomir Aksic sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for war crimes (media)

• ​​Police raid ‘Three Skyscrapers’ in north, encounter parallel structures (Reporteri)

• Svecla: We shut down a parallel institution of Serbia in the north (media)

• Hovenier honored that Osmani and her family spent Christmas at Bondsteel (RTK)

• Mustafi: Serbia continues with discrimination against Albanians (Koha)

• Tahiri: Kurti is embarrassing Kosovo in front of international partners (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• KP arrested two officials of the Gracanica Municipality (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, Media Center Caglavica) 

• KP in the premises of the Public Housing Company and the Directorate for Urban Building Land and Roads (KoSSev, KIM radio, Kosovo Online, RTS, media)

• Office for KiM: Kurti continues terrorizing Serbs and looting their property in the north (Kosovo Online)

• SL: Invasion into the Serbian institutions, Kurti's revenge for the failed attempt to ban us (Kosovo Online)

• The Serbian national flag taken down again from the Zvecan fortress (KoSSev, Danas)

• Odalovic hopes for a prompt meeting of the Commission, families of the missing deserve answers and truth (Kosovo Online)

• Blakaj: Without political will, the establishment of the Joint Commission for the Missing Persons means nothing (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media 

Kurti calls on diaspora to register: Four minutes of your time, four decisive years for Kosovo (media)

Through a video published on Facebook, from the vehicle, Prime Minister Albin Kurti has once again called on the diaspora to register to vote in the February 9, 2025 elections. He announced that the deadline is today at 23:59.

“Dear diaspora, I thank all of you who have registered to vote from abroad at our embassies and consulates and by mail. The deadline is tonight, 23:59. So those of you who have not yet registered, register and benefit. I know that you are busy with work and obligations. But, I promise you that the procedure will not take more than 4 minutes. 4 minutes of your valuable time, for 4 decisive years for Kosovo, for the progress and security of our state. Those of you who have registered, contact your friends and family, and since you already know how to register, help them to register successfully. Without registration, there is no voting. Register online on the CEC platform to vote from abroad for the February 2025 elections. Your vote is a democratic right and an irreplaceable service for the country. Thank you and we are forever grateful. Greetings and goodbye, " Kurti said.

CEC awaits legal deadlines for certification of Serbian List (RTK)

The Central Election Commission will await the completion of legal procedures before placing on the agenda the certification of Serbian List for participation in the February 9 elections, according to the ECAP order.

CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi told RTKlive that the decision of the Electoral Panel for Complaints and Appeals contains legal advice that an appeal against it is allowed to the Supreme Court, within 48 hours from the moment of the decision. “The ECAP decision contains legal advice, according to which an appeal against it is allowed to the Supreme Court, within 48 hours from the moment of the decision. Therefore, the CEC, before placing this issue on the agenda, will await the completion of legal procedures,” Elezi said.

Cedomir Aksic sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for war crimes (media)

Cedomir Aksic was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for war crimes on Thursday by the Basic Court in Pristina. The convicted Aksic was not present at the hearing. The case against him is the first trial in absentia since the war. The presiding judge, Viloleta Namani-Hajra, said that from January to May 1999, Aksic, together with other unidentified persons (in military and police uniforms), committed murder, violation of the physical integrity and health of the unprotected civilian population and expulsion of the civilian population in the villages of Shtime, Mollopolc, Petrove and Recak.

The Special Prosecution had charged Aksic with a number of murders, including participation in the Recak Massacre. The indictment alleges that between the villages of Recak, Mulapolc and Petrova, Aksic, together with other members of the Serbian forces, ordered the expulsion of residents and then burned their homes. He is also accused of direct participation in a murder. In the village of Recak, according to the indictment, Aksic also participated in the murder of Hajriz Brahimi, Hakin Murati, Sabri Murati, Arif Murati, Ahmet Mustafa, Sadik Mujota, Skender Haliti and Hanumshahe Mujota.

According to court documents, Aksic now lives in Krusevac, Serbia.

​​Police raid ‘Three Skyscrapers’ in the north, encounter parallel structures (Reporteri)

Kosovo Police raided the “Three Skyscrapers” in North Mitrovica in a building suspected of forgery of documents. The news was confirmed by the Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police, Veton Elshani.

“Today, shortly before 11:00, the Police assisted the Municipal officials of North Mitrovica in verifying their property in the three skyscrapers. Upon entering this building (the first floor of the building), the Police spoke with several people who told us that there are employees of an institution there that at first glance appears to be illegal. After verifying some documents, we have notified the Mitrovica Prosecution and have opened a case for the suspicion of forgery of documents. The workers were allowed to take their personal belongings and leave, while the tapes were also put in place,” Elshani said.

He added that no arrests were made as a result of this action.”No people have been arrested, while the police will verify the documentation found there in detail. During this police action, there were no incidents,” Elshani said.

Svecla: We shut down a parallel institution of Serbia in the north (media)

Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said that a parallel institution of Serbia in North Mitrovica was closed today. He said that this was done “in full compliance with our legislation” and within the framework of inter-institutional cooperation and “joint efforts to combat any illegality within our country”

Svecla said that according to materials provided by the Police, this is an institution that “illegally collected payments from numerous citizens and businesses for the use of facilities that are supposedly under their management”.

“This misuse carried out under the flags and emblems of Serbia, in addition to being closed today, will be investigated to the end”, he said.

Hovenier honored that Osmani and her family spent Christmas at Bondsteel (RTK)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said that he is honored that President Vjosa Osmani, along with her family, joined him at Camp Bondsteel to celebrate Christmas.

“Laura and I were honored that President Vjosa Osmani and her family joined us at Camp Bondsteel to celebrate Christmas with the U.S. and NATO soldiers who serve far from their families and who contribute every day to a peaceful and secure Kosovo. Happy holiday to everyone celebrating in Kosovo and around the world,” Hovenier wrote on Facebook.

Mustafi: Serbia continues with discrimination against Albanians (Koha)

The former chairman of the Albanian National Council, Ragmi Mustafi, has said that the Serbian government is continuously obstructing Kosovo institutions and discriminating against Albanians in the Valley. “The Serbian government is continuously obstructing and insisting on obstructing and not enabling direct connections with Kosovo institutions. We see it as an increase in tensions, even a continuation of discrimination and obstruction of Kosovo institutions from caring for Albanians in the Valley. Their visits would have the right impact,” he said.

He noted that the issue of Albanians in the Presheva Valley is raised at every table where the Western Balkans are discussed. Mustafi, who is currently an advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, added that the Valley also needs Albania’s support in many areas.

"It is illogical for Tirana or Pristina to have good relations with Belgrade, while on the other hand Belgrade discriminates and oppresses Albanians in the Valley. Second, more than ever, there is a need for a common strategy to address the issues of the Valley, third, Albania can do much more, starting with opening a budget line to support the Valley, opening a consulate for Albanians there, and so on."

Tahiri: Kurti is embarrassing Kosovo in front of international partners (Reporteri)

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Edita Tahiri, has criticized Prime Minister Albin Kurti for damaging the image of Kosovo. She wrote on her "Facebook" profile that Kurti has not played any role in the freedom of Kosovo.

"We brought freedom for all citizens of Kosovo, politicians like Kurti who did not play a role on freedom are damaging the image of the free, democratic, sovereign state of Kosovo - first they do not certify some political entities for elections, then they are forced to do so - It is not the first time that this prime minister has embarrassed our state in front of international partners", Tahiri wrote.

Serbian Language Media 

KP arrested two officials of the Gracanica Municipality (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, Media Center Caglavica) 

Members of the Kosovo Police entered the Gracanica Municipality building today.

Media in Serbian language unofficially learns that two officials of the Municipality of Gracanica were arrested.

The action conducted by the Directorate for Combating Economic Crime is ongoing, reported the media, stating that the reason for the action was not known at the time the news was published. 

In front of the municipal building were present the Kosovo Police, and KFOR members.

KP in the premises of the Public Housing Company and the Directorate for Urban Building Land and Roads (KoSSev, KiM radio, Kosovo Online, RTS, media)

KoSSev portal reported that today, at the request of the North Mitrovica Municipality, the Kosovo Police entered the premises of the Directorate for Urban Construction Land and the Public Housing Company. The North Mitrovica municipality claims that the building is their property, the deputy commander for the North region, Veton Elshani told KoSSev. 

KP said it assisted inspectors in this action, which started around 11 am today. 

"The municipality of North Mitrovica asked us to check what is happening. They claim that it is their property. We came with them, entered the premises, and talked to the employees. We learned that there could be a parallel illegal structure operating here," said Elshani. He also confirmed that the "Forgery of documents" case has been opened.

"We are now in contact with the prosecutor, until the case is resolved, we have surveillance," he said, adding that the workers picked up their personal belongings and left the premises.

When asked about the Serbian flags that were removed from the building, Elshani replied:

"Everything will be removed, this is a parallel structure, we doubt it. We found documents with seals, which is enough to open the case. The case is already open, which means that we suspect that there is a parallel structure here."

He stated that it will still be determined who owns the building, reported KoSSev.

Office for KiM: Kurti continues terrorizing Serbs and looting their property in the north (Kosovo Online)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced about the ''invasion of the KP into the premises of the Directorate for Construction Land and Roads and the Directorate for Residential and Commercial Space in North Mitrovica'', saying that Pristina's terror against Serbs and their institutions in the north of Kosovo continued in a drastic and brutal manner.  

"Members of the Special Police of Albin Kurti today broke into the premises of the Directorate for Construction Land and Roads and the Directorate for Residential and Commercial Space in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, thus continuing in a drastic and brutal manner the terror of Pristina against the Serbs and their institutions in the north of Kosovo and Metohija. It is about the continuation of the brutal and illegal seizure of Serbian property in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, which is contrary to all valid agreements and agreements," the statement said.

According to the Office, around 70 workers of those institutions were asked to show their IDs, and then ordered to leave the premises.

These directorates are located in a residential building and the intrusion into them caused fear and anxiety among the employees, as well as the tenants of this and the surrounding buildings, warned the Office.

"It is clear that Albin Kurti is trying at all costs to further destabilize the situation in the north of Kosovo and Metohija before the elections and is trying to force a reaction from the Serbs that would serve as an excuse to prevent Serbian List from participating in the elections for the Parliament of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina," they said. 

The Office called on all Serbs in the north of Kosovo to keep their composure and not fall for provocations, and the international presence in Kosovo to take urgent measures so that Kosovo PM Albin Kurti is restrained and prevented from provoking conflicts.

SL: Invasion into the Serbian institutions, Kurti's revenge for the failed attempt to ban us (Kosovo Online)

"After the embarrassment he experienced in the attempt to ban the participation of the Serbian List by the illegal decision of its members in the Central Election Commission, Albin Kurti decided today to compensate for his failure and anger by invading the Serbian directorates for public urban space and construction land in Kosovska Mitrovica and closing these institutions," the Serbian List announcement reads. 

"In direct communication with our state, a clear position was taken that today's incursion, despite Kurti's clear intention to expel all Serbs, will not endanger the 70 employees in these two directorates, and that they will continue to receive personal incomes, however, this will have negative consequences for more of 1,000 families who belong to the category of displaced or socially vulnerable persons, whose housing units these directorates have taken care of for years and provided them with assistance in maintaining their housing areas," the SL said. 

They expect the international representatives to clearly condemn this illegal act and act preventively to prevent Kurti from jeopardizing the fragile peace in these regions because of his political rating, "because it is their duty and obligation."

The Serbian national flag taken down again from the Zvecan fortress (KoSSev, Danas)

The Serbian national flag at the Zvecan fortress was taken down again. According to KoSSev, this time the perpetrators made an effort to put in more work, with obviously better knowledge of the terrain.

The flag was removed by using a suitable tool to unscrew the screws from the tall iron mast, which was embedded in the rock. The mast was bent, and the flag was taken away. 

The KP was informed about the case, but the police "does not handle" the case, the deputy commander of the KP for the North, Veton Elshani, confirmed for Kosovo.

He says that they were informed only after the flag was taken down, and the police officers visited the scene. Despite the stronger presence, they claim that they did not notice anything beforehand.

KoSSev recalled that a few days ago the ropes for raising and maintaining the flag on the mast were changed, which broke due to wear and tear and the strong wind that blows from the fortress especially at this time of the year. According to the testimony of a group of young women who worked on the repair, writes KoSSev, a police drone was raised, and a police team came.

Elshani confirmed this today, saying that then they saw information on Telegram channels that the flag had been removed and that the police went up after seeing people "thinking that they were removing the flag".

When asked how they didn't notice it now, he stated that it could have happened at night, that it doesn't mean that the patrol was at the point from which it can be seen, and that a larger number of people go up there.

Odalovic hopes for a prompt meeting of the Commission, families of the missing deserve answers and truth (Kosovo Online)

The President of the Government's Commission for Missing Persons, Veljko Odalovic, expressed hope that the Joint Commission for implementing the Declaration on Missing Persons would begin its work very soon because both Serbian and Albanian families deserve answers and the truth.

"The Declaration on Missing Persons was practically agreed upon a year and a half ago between President Vucic and Albin Kurti, and its implementation depends on whether and when this Joint Commission begins its work, as it has been identified in the Declaration. The most important thing is that the Working Group can return to its mandate," Odalovic told Kosovo Online.

Recalling that the Working Group on Missing Persons was established under the auspices of the UN SG and in accordance with Resolution 1244, Odalovic emphasized that it was a mechanism that functioned well until four years ago.

"Four years ago, Albin Kurti unilaterally interrupted this process, and we practically haven't had this function for four years. The Declaration identified the Working Group as the only body mandated to deal with missing persons, while the Joint Commission, expected to be operational next month, is practically a support mechanism for the Working Group," Odalovic explained.

He emphasized that the Joint Commission would be the body addressing all issues and topics where full agreement could not be reached beforehand, or where both Pristina and Belgrade assessed they needed external assistance.

Odalovic noted that it was up to the ICRC to schedule a meeting at which representatives of the Belgrade and Pristina delegations would convene.

"We need to put on the table the issues that have accumulated over these four years: many pieces of information and many questions that require answers. The mechanism of the Working Group is in place, but since there have been no meetings, we lack answers, agreed-upon planned activities, and timelines for their implementation. Now we need to revive this mechanism of the Working Group," Odalovic specified.

He reminded that the efforts of the WG had resolved more than 1,800 cases of missing persons, over 80% of whom were Kosovo Albanians, stressing that with Kurti's unilateral decision, this process came to a halt.

"A mechanism that yielded results, established straightforward rules, and a general framework was halted. Stopping it was utterly irrational and a very poor decision, especially for the families of the missing, who had hoped that when the Declaration was adopted and agreed upon in Ohrid, we would gain new momentum," Odalovic said.

Asked whether he expected the Joint Commission to overcome the four-year pause and disagreements, Odalovic stated that the Declaration on Missing Persons, through its agreed-upon text of joint rules, provides a framework for how work will be conducted, with the EU serving as a guarantor of its implementation.

"I hope we will have that meeting soon. I have called on representatives of the ICRC to contact Pristina so we can agree on a meeting date and agenda and begin working. When we encounter problems in our work – issues we cannot resolve or agree on – we will delegate them to this Joint Commission. The Joint Commission, through its mechanisms, which are more powerful than those of the Working Group, can assist and support us in our efforts," Odalovic concluded.

Blakaj: Without political will, the establishment of the Joint Commission for the Missing Persons means nothing (Kosovo Online)

The executive director of the Fund for Humanitarian Law in Kosovo, Bekim Blakaj, welcomed the establishment of the Joint Commission, which, with the mediation of the EU, would begin to implement the Declaration on the Missing, but warned that without political will, it would not be possible.

"We have been waiting for the establishment of a joint commission for more than a year and a half, since the joint statement of the President of Serbia and the Prime Minister of Kosovo in Ohrid, in May 2023. Then the parties agreed to establish a joint commission that will be led by someone from the EU. However, it took more than a year for that to happen," Blakaj told Kosovo Online.

"Of course, we hope that the commission will produce some concrete results when it comes to missing persons, but we can't really be very optimistic, because there have been working groups before, that is, a joint working group. They did meet often in the past, but even then, we did not see results. So, the establishment of the Commission in itself, means nothing, if there is no political will to really shed light on the fate of the missing persons. And, if the issue of missing persons is not really seen as a humanitarian issue. Until now, unfortunately, this has not been the case. Most of the time, almost always, the issue of missing persons was treated as a political issue and very often the process of searching for missing persons was interrupted precisely because of political statements, reactions, demands," concluded Blakaj.