Gola: Claims of interethnic tensions in Kosovo must be proven with facts

Ardian Gola, deputy speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, has reacted to statements about interethnic tensions in the country, stressing that such claims must be accompanied by concrete and verifiable data.

In a Facebook post, Gola said that describing the interethnic situation without evidence cannot simply be treated as a critical stance toward politics. According to him, such an approach could reinforce the narrative that Serbia and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have used against Kosovo for years.

“To say that there are interethnic tensions in Kosovo is an extremely serious claim to make without concrete and verifiable facts. When evidence is lacking, this is no longer merely political criticism, but instead feeds precisely the narrative that Serbia and Vučić have used against Kosovo for years.

The situation becomes even more concerning when such statements are relayed by international media. Interethnic relations cannot be assessed based on personal impressions, but must be analyzed on the basis of facts.

It is understandable for the government to be harshly criticized, even in cases where such criticism may run counter to the national interest. A critic may also be guided by cosmopolitan principles, which during this period of global clashes may appear more like delusions, but that remains his or her right. However, presenting as fact an interethnic situation that is not supported by evidence does not constitute constructive criticism. On the contrary, it creates fertile ground for lynching and polarizing language, such as the division between ‘traitors’ and ‘patriots.’

Therefore, anyone claiming that interethnic tensions exist in Kosovo must identify the facts or indicators on which that claim is based. If these are lacking, such statements are not only irresponsible, but also objectively harmful to Kosovo,” Gola wrote.