Journalist Rexhep Shahu has lashed out at opinions warning of a threat to Kosovo’s independence after the latest decision of the Special Court.

He has rejected these claims, emphasizing that Kosovo’s future as a state does not depend on the will of Serbia or Albania, but is strongly supported by the guarantee of the United States and NATO.

Targeting analysts who speak about undermining independence, Shahu has expressed suspicion that some of them may be financed by the Serbian state.

His full reaction:

For those spreading panic in television studios claiming that now, after the special court’s verdict that dismissed Serbian accusations against the KLA and the liberation war but punished 4 individuals on the basis of individual responsibility, Kosovo’s independence risks being dismantled by Serbia.

These slanderers must be clear that the fate of Kosovo’s independence has never been and is not today in the hands of Serbia, Albania, Paskal Milo, or Fatos Klosi.

The acceptor of Kosovo’s freedom and statehood, its guarantor and protector remains America and NATO, the American state.

For those speculating in studios about endangering Kosovo’s independence, I suspect they receive payments from Serbia.

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Journalist Gëzim Mekuli has expressed deep indignation after Kosovo was ranked 357th in the international PISA assessment, calling this ranking an alarm signal.

In his strong criticism, he targeted the lack of essential reforms in the education system and demanded accountability from all the Ministers of Education who have led over the years. Mekuli argued that Kosovo’s failure goes beyond the institutional sphere, touching the core of forming an educated citizen.

Through a post on the social network Facebook, he wrote:

“357, for God’s sake. This number should make us feel ashamed.”

Then, he drew attention to comparisons with other realities: “Take a look at the table: Palestine ranks 359th, Lebanon 372nd. Countries that are experiencing conflicts, crises, and extraordinary tragedies.”

Mekuli added that behind Kosovo come only Paraguay, Iraqi Kurdistan, Guatemala, Zambia, Kenya, Tajikistan, and Rwanda, asking whether, more than 26 years after the end of the war, conflict and Serbia can still be used as an excuse, when countries like Lebanon and Palestine have surpassed our results. “Should we forever play the victim role?” he added.

Continuing the reaction, the journalist raised direct questions about accountability: “Where is the accountability of the Ministers of Education since 2000? Where are the promised transformations? Where has knowledge gone?”

He closed his message with a deep reflection: “Kosovo is not simply failing in building institutions, but it is failing in creating the knowledgeable individual; and this danger is much greater than any negative figure. To the last point: is this ‘illiterate’ political class the fruit of this education system, or is this education system the fruit of a political class that does not want the educated Albanian?”

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Opinionist Nexhmije Gjema has reacted sharply to efforts to downplay Serbia’s responsibility for the crimes committed in Kosovo during the war.

In a public post, she criticized several opposition analysts and politicians who, according to her, are trying to find justifications for the war crimes.

“As long as we are still finding mass graves, Serbia cannot bury the truth. Neither can you,” Gjema wrote.

Full post:

This video is a slap in the face for anyone trying to relativize, justify or amnesty Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo.

I would force this video on repeat a million times for some of our opposition “analysts” and politicians who have taken it upon themselves to wash away Serbia’s sins—the war crimes.

How ironic:

There, in Serbia, these people are speaking out and expressing horror because they SAW, they KNEW and they REMAINED SILENT about the crimes committed by the Serbian police, army and paramilitaries—in other words, their state…

…while here, in Kosovo, there are still some unscrupulous people who come out and explain to us that Serbia was not really that much at fault, that “we need to look at the context,” that “maybe… they weren’t at fault either” … and all sorts of such idiocy, finding an excuse for every crime.

What a miserable lot.

😡

As long as we are still finding mass graves, Serbia cannot bury the truth. Neither can you.

P.S. The program hosted by Milomir Marić, with guests Nenad Marianko, Nenedomir Jovanoviç and Urosh Shuvakoviç, who is one of Milošević’s most extreme followers and deputy head of the State Security Analysis Department (DB) during the time of open terror, political killings, aggression, wars and crimes.

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Businessman Behgjet Pacolli has erupted with strong accusations against journalist Vebi Kajtazi and lawyer Besnik Berisha, whom he holds responsible for spreading false and defamatory information against him. In a lengthy response on social media, he called these reports a genuine campaign to smear his name and that of his family members.

According to Pacolli, the news that he and his brother were allegedly under investigation by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office is a pure fabrication. He described this as a “slander” and a “lie” deliberately constructed to damage his public image.

Pacolli paid particular attention to a statement by Besnik Berisha during an appearance on the show “Të Paekspozuarit”. He claims that Berisha, who holds the position of President of the Kosovo Bar Association, had publicly said that “Behgjet Pacolli will be arrested”. The businessman called this phrase a scandalous, irresponsible, and deeply unethical act, which contradicts the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence.

Full Facebook post:

For Vebi Kajtazi and Besnik Berisha…

Every journalist addressing the public has a moral, ethical, and professional duty to meticulously verify information and not spread fabrications, conjectures, or baseless techniques.

In this specific case, the portal Paparaci under the direction of Vebi Kajtazi, and the portal Sinjali with Besnik Berisha, have repeatedly disseminated defamatory news that has never been confirmed. One of their fabrications was the lie that my brother and I were being investigated by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office. This was a completely false claim, merely a slander and a lie.

Throughout all this time, these media outlets have continued to weave narratives based on speculation and false accusations with a clear aim to damage my reputation and that of my family.

Moreover, Besnik Berisha, in his role as head of the Kosovo Bar Association, during the show “Të Paekspozuarit”, went even further. He publicly declared that “Behgjet Pacolli will be arrested”, presenting it as a fait accompli rather than a personal opinion or analysis. (I invite you to listen to the statement after the 15th minute of the show.)

How malicious, how low, how irresponsible, and how unethical such a statement was, especially when coming from a lawyer who chairs the most representative institution of Kosovar lawyers. A legal professional must be a guarantor of the presumption of innocence, of facts, and of the highest ethical standards, not a source of public prejudice or statements that shape misguided public perception.

This is not the model that citizens expect from the media or from representatives of liberal professions. This is behavior that undermines trust in justice, in journalism, and in the rule of law itself.

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Publicist Adriatik Dosti has launched sharp criticism against Prime Minister Edi Rama, confronting him with a profound contradiction regarding the history of Balli Kombëtar. He recalled the grand state ceremony of 2018, when the Albanian government reburied the remains of Mit’hat Frashëri, while Rama himself delivered lofty words about his national contribution. Yet today, according to Dosti, the same prime minister uses the epithet “ballist” as an insult against MP Agron Shehaj.

Dosti sees this as a hypocritical stance, where Rama’s current rhetoric revives the spirit of the communist war against nationalist forces. According to him, the prime minister wears two faces: one that publicly honors Balli figures for political gain, and another that despises them when needed for daily battles.

On November 14, 2018, Albania received with an official ceremony the remains of one of the nation’s most brilliant figures, Mit’hat Frashëri, founder of Balli Kombëtar. Dosti emphasizes that the expenses for this repatriation, in respect of Frashëri’s testament, were covered by businessman Agron Shehaj, although the credit was taken by the government and the prime minister at the time.

During the homage near the hills of the Artificial Lake, Rama delivered what Dosti considers the most dignified and national speech of his career. He called Frashëri a worthy servant of the nation, unjustly condemned by the occupiers of the time, and invited those present to bow their heads before his history.

But eight years later, Dosti condemns Rama’s completely opposite approach. He accuses the prime minister of reawakening the blood of the former “victors,” publicly attacking Shehaj and comparing him to a “ballist who enters the henhouse and steals the chickens,” in reference to the document taken from the parliamentary secretariat.

This mindset, Dosti underscores, is the same philosophy inherited from the Enver Hoxha regime, which incited hatred against Balli Kombëtar and other Albanians. He cites the call of the old communist commander and links it to Rama’s latest statement, in which he demanded the immediate arrest of the one he now calls a “ballist.”

Finally, Dosti ends with bitter irony: it is difficult to find another case in history, where those who themselves admitted they should bow before Frashëri’s work, today throw so much mud and venom on the Albanian Kingdom, King Zog, and the entire legacy of Balli. He concludes that you cannot expect anything else from such people, mentioning the popular Tirana wisdom about what the belly and soul bring forth.

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American Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson has expressed deep indignation over the words of Snežana Paunović, Serbia’s Minister of Public Administration, branding them as “disgusting.” He said that precisely these kinds of attitudes represent the main reason why the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly should not even consider the possibility of Belgrade hosting its annual session in 2027.

In a post on X, Wilson stressed that these inflammatory statements from a representative of the Serbian Government are concrete proof that Belgrade’s candidacy for that event must be dismissed. He recalled that the OSCE’s mission is to strengthen consensus in Europe, not to revive clashes between ethnic groups.

The controversy erupted after Paunović declared publicly that, if she had been in Slobodan Milošević’s role in 1998, she would have carried out “ethnic cleansing” in Kosovo. The phrase was immediately met with condemnation from the European Union, which described it as totally incompatible with European standards and the spirit of neighborly cooperation.

As a consequence of these expressions, Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs decided to declare Paunović persona non grata, permanently banning her entry and transit through the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.

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According to Dosti, the aforementioned individuals hold openly hostile attitudes towards Albanians, constantly expressing hatred and venom. He claims that they are unforgivable in their behavior towards the people.

Regarding former journalist Frrok Çupi, Dosti claims that he was a collaborator of the state security service, citing that this is proven with a file and official court document. Further, he links Çupi to the events of 1997, when, according to him, he stood on a tank with an automatic rifle on his shoulder and called for a march towards Tirana to kill the “hillbilly” Sali Berisha, in the company of individuals like Zani Çaushi, Neritan Ceka, Arben Imami, Skënder Gjinushi and Zabit Broka.

Addressing businessman Gjergj Luca, Dosti accuses him that in the past he spied on his friends and that his father often had to get him out of police stations because of his behavior. He also alleges that Luca stole belts and shoelaces from dormitory mates to sell them, in order to secure money for gambling. On the contemporary level, the author links him with Prime Minister Edi Rama, alluding to property grabs disguised as fishing business, behind which a criminal drug gang is hiding.

Former Minister of Justice Ylli Manjani is not spared from the attacks. Dosti says that Manjani did not become a minister with the will of Albanians, but aligned himself with Ilir Meta and Edi Rama. He adds that a good part of Manjani’s fame he owes to Adi Krasta and labels him as someone who has preserved hatred towards Albanians. Moreover, Dosti mentions a public statement by Manjani about police weapons, which he interprets as an incitement to violence and as indifference towards protesters.

Regarding journalist Mustafa Nano, Dosti calls him a born anti-Albanian, a close friend of the Serb Aleksander Paunoviç, from whom, according to him, he even took the name of the show “Provokacja”. He claims that Nano aims to present Skanderbeg as a Serb and recalls that he once led the Democratic Party in the area where he lived and was later appointed ambassador of the Rama government to Switzerland. According to the author, Nano never stops insulting Albanians without any reason.

The post concludes with a series of heavy insults, where Dosti labels all the mentioned persons as “bad seed” and “a race of bastards”, coming from cooperative haystacks and stables, reflecting a deeply personal and unjournalistic stance.

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