The “Severna Brigada,” which has been designated a terrorist organization, is suspected of renewing its threats to kill institutional officials in Kosovo. The Kosovo Police has registered the case as a criminal offense of terrorism and launched an investigation.

A report by the Kosovo Police states that the threatening messages were published on social media and are suspected of having been disseminated by the self-proclaimed “Severna Brigada.” The case was registered on July 28 and is being handled by the responsible units of the Kosovo Police.

The Government of Kosovo designated this organization as terrorist on June 29, 2023, at the same time as the “Civil Protection,” because of activities considered a threat to the country’s constitutional order and security.

The reappearance of these messages online has increased concerns about the activities of extremist structures and the security risks that Kosovo’s institutions continue to face.

One of the main questions raised is whether this is merely virtual pressure or whether the threats demonstrate that these structures still have the capacity to influence stability and the security climate in the country.

It also remains to be assessed whether the measures taken so far by the security institutions have been sufficient and whether preventing such incidents requires greater cooperation between local and international actors.

Security expert Arben Dashevci and security professor and retired general Muhamet Racaj gave their assessments of these developments to the newspaper “Bota sot.”

Dashevci: The organization remains a threat to national security

Expert Arben Dashevci says the latest threats do not constitute a new phenomenon. According to him, the “Severna Brigada” has acted in the past and continues to pose a risk to Kosovo’s security.

He places this organization in the same context as the so-called “Civil Protection” structure, emphasizing that both have been suspected of terrorist activities and destabilizing efforts.

“Yes, the terrorist organization ‘Severna Brigada’ has once again published death threats against institutional officials in Kosovo, after having done so repeatedly in the past. This organization and the so-called ‘Civil Protection’ directly endangered the national security of our country in 2023,” Dashevci told “Bota sot.”

According to the expert, the aim of these structures has been to spread fear and insecurity through threats, attacks and other forms of pressure.

“They are suspected of terrorist criminal offenses because their aim has been to sow panic, issue threats, carry out terrorist attacks, as in the case of Banjska, and engage in blackmail and sabotage. Their publications on social media raise concerns about institutional security and the impact of such groups on the country’s stability,” he emphasizes.

Dashevci says Kosovo’s authorities are treating these cases seriously and have demonstrated readiness, but warns that the threat from extremist groups has not disappeared.

“The continuation of threats from the ‘Severna Brigada’ shows that Kosovo’s institutions still face serious challenges from extremist groups, but there is maximum vigilance. Our security institutions are highly effective, and the measures taken so far to prevent such actions have been treated with the utmost seriousness,” he says.

He considers these developments part of a hybrid war being waged against Kosovo.

“These threats to the security of officials and to the political climate in Kosovo are part of a fierce hybrid war. In my assessment, they are directed by Serbia. These structures are not located in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, but operate from outside and issue threats freely from their base in Serbia,” Dashevci declares.

According to him, addressing this risk requires closer coordination with international allies.

“A coordinated response is needed between our security institutions and international partners from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, always as a preventive measure to avoid an escalation of the situation,” he concludes.

Racaj: Attacks on institutions undermine the functioning of the state

Security professor and retired general Muhamet Racaj believes that the return of the threats cannot be considered merely an isolated episode.

He argues that this may be a sign that the extremist structures operating in northern Kosovo have not been completely dismantled and may be using different means to continue their activities.

“The return of threats from the terrorist organization ‘Severna Brigada’ should not be viewed as an isolated incident or merely as a virtual threat on social media. On the contrary, it is a serious indicator that the extremist structures operating in northern Kosovo have not been fully dismantled,” Racaj told “Bota sot.”

Racaj stresses that threats against the highest levels of the institutions affect not only the people holding those positions, but the constitutional order itself.

“When the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Assembly or other state institutions become the targets of threats, we are not dealing with threats against individuals, but against the normal functioning of the state,” he says.

According to the retired general, events in recent years have demonstrated that organized criminal and terrorist structures have existed in northern Kosovo.

“The events in Banjska, the attacks on the Kosovo Police, the attacks on KFOR personnel and organized criminal activities show that these structures possessed organization, financing and logistical support. For this reason, every new threat must be treated with the utmost seriousness,” he emphasizes.

He acknowledges that the security institutions have made progress in confronting these groups, but stresses that the fight against extremism requires uninterrupted efforts.

“The Kosovo Police, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, the Special Prosecution and other security institutions have made significant progress in striking criminal and terrorist groups. Nevertheless, the fact that the ‘Severna Brigada’ continues to reappear shows that the fight against extremism is not over,” Racaj declares.

According to him, the threatening messages aim to create psychological insecurity, influence institutional decision-making and weaken citizens’ trust in the state.

“These threats directly affect the security of state officials and the political climate in the country. They aim to create psychological insecurity, exert pressure on institutional decision-making and undermine citizens’ confidence in the state’s ability to guarantee security,” he says.

Racaj calls for stronger cooperation between local institutions and foreign partners to respond to these risks.

“The Kosovo Police, the KIA, the Special Prosecution, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Kosovo Security Force, KFOR and international partners must exchange information in real time, identify the sources of financing and command of these groups, and take preventive measures,” he concludes for “Bota sot.”

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The terrorist organization “Severna Brigada” is suspected of having renewed its death threats against institutional officials in Kosovo. The Kosovo Police registered the case on July 28 and is investigating it as a criminal offense of terrorism.

According to the police report, the threatening messages were distributed on social media and are suspected of having been published by the self-styled organization “Severna Brigada.” The investigation is being conducted by the relevant units of the Kosovo Police.

“Severna Brigada” and the organization “Civil Protection” were declared terrorist organizations by the Government of Kosovo on June 29, 2023, after their activities were assessed as a threat to the constitutional order and the country’s security.

The reappearance of these messages online has sparked new concerns about the presence and influence of extremist structures, as well as the challenges Kosovo’s institutions continue to face in the security sector.

One of the main questions raised is whether this is merely virtual pressure or whether the threats demonstrate that these structures still retain the capacity to influence Kosovo’s security and stability.

It also remains to be seen how effective the security institutions’ measures to date have been and whether more consolidated domestic and international cooperation is needed to prevent similar actions.

Regarding these developments, security expert Arben Dashevci and security professor and retired general Muhamet Racaj gave their assessments to the newspaper “Bota sot.”

Dashevci: “Severna Brigada” remains a threat to national security

Security expert Arben Dashevci says the latest threats do not constitute an unknown development, as “Severna Brigada” has acted before and, according to him, has posed a danger to Kosovo’s security.

He emphasizes that this organization, together with the so-called “Civil Protection” structure, has been suspected of terrorist activities and destabilizing efforts against the country.

“Yes, the terrorist organization ‘Severna Brigada’ has once again published death threats against institutional officials in Kosovo, as it has done repeatedly in the past. This organization and the so-called ‘Civil Protection’ directly endangered the national security of our country in 2023,” Dashevci told “Bota sot.”

According to the expert, the activities of these structures aim to spread fear and insecurity through threats, attacks and other forms of pressure.

“They are suspected of criminal offenses of terrorism because their goal has been to sow panic, issue threats, carry out terrorist attacks, as in the case of Banjska, and engage in blackmail and sabotage. Their publications on social media raise concerns about institutional security and the influence of such groups on the country’s stability,” he emphasizes.

Dashevci assesses that Kosovo’s institutions have shown readiness to address these cases, although the threat from extremist groups has not disappeared.

“The continuation of threats from ‘Severna Brigada’ shows that Kosovo’s institutions still face serious challenges from extremist groups, but maximum vigilance exists. Our security agencies are highly effective, and the measures taken so far to prevent such actions have been addressed with great seriousness,” he says.

According to him, these developments are part of a hybrid war directed against Kosovo.

“These threats to the security of officials and to the political climate in Kosovo are part of a fierce hybrid war. In my assessment, they are directed by Serbia. These structures are not located in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, but operate from outside and issue threats freely from their base in Serbia,” Dashevci says.

The expert calls for stronger coordination with international partners to prevent the situation from escalating.

“A coordinated response is needed between our security institutions and international partners from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, always as a preventive measure to avoid an escalation of the situation,” he concludes.

Racaj: Any threat against institutions affects the state itself

Security professor and retired general Muhamet Racaj considers it wrong to treat the return of the threats as an isolated event.

He says this development may indicate that the extremist structures that have operated in northern Kosovo have not been completely dismantled and may continue their activities through various means.

“The return of threats from the terrorist organization ‘Severna Brigada’ should not be seen as an isolated incident or merely as a virtual threat on social media. On the contrary, it is a serious indicator that the extremist structures that have operated in northern Kosovo have not been fully dismantled,” Racaj told “Bota sot.”

Racaj stresses that threats against the highest state figures and institutions go beyond the individual level, as they affect the functioning of the constitutional order.

“When the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Assembly or other state institutions become the targets of threats, then we are not dealing with threats against individuals, but against the normal functioning of the state,” he says.

According to the retired general, events in recent years have demonstrated that organized criminal and terrorist structures have existed in northern Kosovo.

“The events in Banjska, attacks against the Kosovo Police, attacks against KFOR members and organized criminal actions show that these structures possessed organization, financing and logistical support. For this reason, every new threat must be treated with the utmost seriousness,” he emphasizes.

Although the security institutions have made progress, Racaj says the fight against extremism requires continued commitment.

“The Kosovo Police, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, the Special Prosecution and other security institutions have made significant progress in striking criminal and terrorist groups. However, the fact that ‘Severna Brigada’ continues to reappear shows that the fight against extremism is not over,” Racaj says.

According to him, the threatening messages aim to create psychological insecurity, influence decision-making and undermine citizens’ trust in the institutions.

“These threats directly affect the security of state officials and the political climate in the country. They aim to create psychological insecurity, exert pressure on institutional decision-making and undermine citizens’ trust in the state’s ability to guarantee security,” he says.

Racaj calls for greater coordination between domestic institutions and international partners to respond to these risks.

“The Kosovo Police, the KIA, the Special Prosecution, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Kosovo Security Force, KFOR and international partners must exchange information in real time, identify the sources of financing and command of these groups, and take preventive measures,” he concluded to “Bota sot.”

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The Basic Prosecution Office in Peja has closed proceedings against acting minister Elbert Krasniqi, which had been opened following allegations of threats, his lawyer Artan Kastrati announced.

According to Kastrati, no evidence was obtained during the handling of the case that would substantiate the allegations of threats. He welcomed the decision of the prosecution.

“I welcome the decision of the Basic Prosecution Office in Peja to close the case, as during the proceedings not a single piece of evidence or well-founded suspicion was found to support the claims made against Minister Krasniqi, allegedly for ‘threatening’ persons unknown to the Minister and known to the justice authorities.

This outcome confirms what we have stated from the beginning: the report was unfounded, tendentious and politically motivated shortly before the elections; moreover, the Minister was accompanied by family members on the day of the incident. The rule of law requires every report to be supported by evidence, not by baseless accusations that create legal uncertainty!

The Prosecution’s decision is proof that justice must rely exclusively on facts and evidence, while respecting the presumption of innocence for every citizen, regardless of their public position, state function or institutional responsibilities,” Kastrati said.

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During the graduation ceremony of 130 new officers of the Serbian Armed Forces, President Aleksandar Vučić reiterated his territorial claims over Kosovo and called for further increase of the country’s military power.

In his address to the newly graduated servicemen, Vučić stressed that Kosovo belongs to Serbia “according to constitutional law and divine justice,” urging the future officers to “defend” what he described as a “holy land.”

These assertions have sparked immediate reactions, being considered a direct continuation of official Belgrade’s language towards Kosovo, precisely at a time when the dialogue between the two countries aims to calm relations and normalize the situation in the Balkans.

Valdet Hoxha: Kosovo must show high vigilance

Security analyst Valdet Hoxha warns that the Serbian president is leading policies that undermine regional peace, accompanying participation in talks with provocative rhetoric towards Prishtina.

In his statement for “Bota sot”, Hoxha emphasizes that the armed incidents in Banjska and at the Ibër-Lepenc canal are concrete evidence that such words cannot be taken lightly.

“Aleksandar Vučić rules Serbia as an authoritarian leader following in the footsteps of the Milošević model, producing policies and circumstances that destabilize the entire region. Unlike his predecessor, Vučić operates with greater cunning — simultaneously negotiating in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue, signing agreements and trying to present himself as a cooperative party, while fueling a war spirit through statements that deny Kosovo’s statehood and through fabricating stories about endangering the Serbian community.”

“The terrorist attacks in Banjska and Ibër-Lepenc — organized, financed and trained in Serbia, as proven by investigations of the Special Prosecution and our international partners — clearly show that these declarations and this nationalist approach must not be ignored,” adds the expert.

According to Hoxha, Prishtina must strengthen its defensive capabilities, modernize the army and deepen cooperation with allies to ensure the country’s defense and resilience.

“Serbia’s territorial ambitions towards Kosovo are no secret and surprise no one, because neither the political class, nor the hegemonic and genocidal policies have undergone transformation, just as the aims for ethnic cleansing have not disappeared. Relying on these realities, Kosovo must move on two fronts: continue building the Armed Forces according to NATO standards and develop a ‘Smart Defense’ concept with countries like Albania, Croatia and Bulgaria; and simultaneously strengthen strategic defense coordination not only with the United States, but also with the United Kingdom and the European Union, states that have been allies in the liberation and building of the state of Kosovo,” Hoxha underlines.

Racaj: Such messages deepen the political and security crisis in the region

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Muhamet Racaj, specialist in security, defense and geopolitics, assesses that Vučić’s stances represent a continuity of the state discourse that keeps the Kosovo issue unresolved and exploits it for Serbian domestic and foreign policy purposes.

He warns that such a stance increases tensions and undermines the dialogue process, as well as regional stability.

“President Vučić’s words during the officer promotion are not just ordinary political rhetoric. They constitute the continuation of a state discourse that keeps the Kosovo issue open and instrumentalizes it for domestic and foreign policies. This approach directly clashes with the spirit of dialogue, with norms of good neighborliness and with the goals for sustainable stability in the Western Balkans.”

“Absolutely yes. Such messages elevate political and security tensions. When the head of state addresses newly appointed officers by calling Kosovo a Serbian territory and assigning political missions to the army, he sends a signal that is interpreted as casting doubt on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. This does not promote peace, but cultivates suspicion and risks collective security in the region.”

“The dialogue process requires acceptance of reality and respect for international agreements. Serbia cannot appear engaged for normalization while its leadership continues not to recognize Kosovo and uses language that contradicts the process led by the European Union. This behavior diminishes trust in the process itself,” Racaj declares for “Bota sot”.

Furthermore, Racaj points out that the modernization of the Serbian army takes on worrying dimensions when accompanied by political rhetoric against Kosovo, also serving for nationalist mobilization and consolidation of internal political power.

“Every state has the right to strengthen its defensive capacities, but when this modernization is accompanied by declarations against a neighboring country and with territorial claims, it takes the form of pressure and intimidation. This becomes even more concerning in a region with a painful history of wars, where the perception of danger directly affects common security. Kosovo remains the main mobilizing axis of Serbian nationalism and in moments of tension, the reappearance of this narrative diverts attention from real problems and strengthens cohesion around the political leadership. There are many indicators that confirm this. Linking the army with rhetoric on Kosovo generates a spirit of forced patriotism, which is often exploited to increase support for the government, but history shows us that the instrumentalization of national themes does not create stability — on the contrary, it feeds futile tensions and hinders the building of healthy regional relations,” he concludes.

At the end of his analysis, Racaj emphasizes that the future of the Western Balkans requires leadership that promotes peace, dialogue and respect for state sovereignty.

“Our region needs leaders who inspire cooperation and respect the international reality, not rhetoric that reawakens narratives of the past. Peace and stability are built only on mutual understanding, cooperation and acceptance of the sovereignty of states. Any declaration that opposes these principles deepens insecurity and harms the European journey of the entire region,” he concluded for “Bota sot”.

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During a ceremony marking the promotion of 130 new Serbian Army officers, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuçiq repeated Belgrade’s claims over Kosovo while calling for Serbia’s military capabilities to be strengthened further.

Addressing the new officers, Vuçiq said that Kosovo belongs to Serbia “according to the Constitution and God’s justice.” He urged them to “protect” what he described as “sacred.”

The statements prompted reactions, as they are seen as a continuation of official Belgrade’s rhetoric toward Kosovo. They came as the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue seeks to normalize relations and ease regional tensions.

Hoxha: Given these circumstances, Kosovo must exercise great caution

Security expert Valdet Hoxha believes that Serbian President Aleksandër Vuçiq continues to pursue policies that, in his view, endanger stability in the Balkans. He says Vuçiq combines participation in the dialogue with inflammatory language against Kosovo.

Speaking to “Bota sot,” Hoxha said the attacks in Banjskë and Ibër-Lepenc demonstrate that such statements cannot be ignored.

According to Hoxha, Serbian President Aleksandër Vuçiq is an authoritarian leader who continues to govern according to Slobodan Milošević’s model, pursuing policies and creating circumstances that threaten stability throughout the Western Balkans.

He believes Vuçiq is even more sinister than his mentor, Milošević. On the one hand, Hoxha said, he participates in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue, signs numerous agreements and attempts to present himself as a “constructive” actor. On the other hand, through inflammatory language, public statements opposing recognition of the Republic of Kosovo and false narratives claiming that the Serbian community in Kosovo is supposedly at risk, he keeps warmongering rhetoric against Kosovo alive.

Hoxha says the terrorist attacks in Banjskë and Ibër-Lepenc show why Vuçiq’s nationalist and warmongering statements and rhetoric must not be overlooked. According to him, they were carried out by well-funded structures that were organized and trained in Serbia, as has also been established by investigations conducted by the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo with the assistance of security mechanisms from international partners.

The expert stresses that Serbia’s claims over Kosovo persist and that Pristina must therefore increase its defense capabilities, strengthen its army and deepen cooperation with international partners to guarantee security and stability.

He emphasizes that it is no secret that Serbia has had and continues to have territorial claims over Kosovo. According to him, this comes as no surprise because neither the political actors nor the hegemonic and genocidal policies in Serbia have changed, while the objectives of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo have not disappeared either.

Under these circumstances, Hoxha says, Kosovo must act with great caution in two areas. First, it must continue developing its defense capabilities by building an army in line with NATO standards and establishing a “Smart Defense” model with countries such as Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria and others. Second, it must strengthen its partnerships and coordinate strategic defense decisions not only with its strategic partner, the United States, but also with the United Kingdom and European Union countries that were allies in Kosovo’s liberation and state-building.

Racaj: Statements of this kind increase political and security tensions in the region

Prof. Dr. Muhamet Racaj, an expert on security, defense and geopolitics, views Vuçiq’s rhetoric on Kosovo as part of a political narrative aimed at keeping the Kosovo issue unresolved and exploiting it for Serbia’s domestic and foreign policy.

According to him, this approach increases tensions, harms the dialogue and undermines stability in the region.

Racaj said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vuçiq’s statements during the promotion of new Serbian Army officers cannot simply be regarded as ordinary political rhetoric. According to him, they embody the continuation of a state narrative aimed at keeping the Kosovo issue open and using it as an instrument of foreign and domestic policy. Such an approach, he added, runs counter to the spirit of dialogue, the principles of good-neighborly relations and the goal of long-term stability in the Western Balkans.

He said such statements heighten political and security tensions in the region. When the president addresses new officers by portraying Kosovo as part of Serbia and assigning the army a political mission, Racaj said, it sends a signal that may be interpreted as a challenge to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. This does not serve peace but deepens mistrust and jeopardizes regional stability.

For Racaj, dialogue entails accepting the political reality and implementing international agreements. He told “Bota sot” that Serbia cannot claim to be committed to normalizing relations while its leadership continues to deny Kosovo’s statehood and uses rhetoric that contradicts the European Union-facilitated dialogue. According to him, this conduct undermines the credibility of the process itself.

Racaj notes that the modernization of the Serbian Army becomes concerning when accompanied by political rhetoric against Kosovo.

He adds that the treatment of the Kosovo issue in Serbian political discourse is also used for nationalist mobilization and the consolidation of power.

According to Racaj, every country has the right to develop its own defense capabilities. However, when military modernization is combined with political statements against a neighboring state and territorial claims, it takes on the character of pressure and intimidation. This becomes particularly alarming in a region marked by a history of conflict, where perceptions of threats directly affect collective security.

He says Kosovo remains the main issue used to mobilize Serbian nationalism. When political, economic or social difficulties arise, the Kosovo narrative is revived to divert public attention and rally the public around the political leadership. According to him, this tactic has been used for years and remains part of Serbia’s official discourse.

Racaj believes that numerous indicators show that linking the military to the political narrative surrounding Kosovo creates a climate of emotional patriotism, which is often used to increase support for those in power. He stresses that history has shown that exploiting national issues for domestic political purposes does not bring stability but instead generates unnecessary tensions and obstructs the development of stable relations in the region.

Finally, Racaj emphasized that dialogue, cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of states are essential to the stability of the Western Balkans.

Speaking to “Bota sot,” he concluded that the region needs leadership that promotes peace, dialogue and respect for international realities, rather than language that revives narratives from the past. According to him, regional stability rests on mutual respect, cooperation and recognition of state sovereignty, while any statement that calls these principles into question increases insecurity and harms the region’s European prospects.

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During a ceremony at which 130 new officers of the Serbian Armed Forces graduated, President Aleksandar Vučić reiterated his claims over Kosovo and called for the expansion of the country’s military power. In his address, he stressed that Kosovo belongs to Serbia “under the Constitution and divine justice,” urging the newly graduated officers to defend what he described as “sacred.”

These statements have prompted strong reactions, as they are seen as an extension of Belgrade’s official stance toward Kosovo and come at a time when dialogue between the parties is intended to ease tensions and normalize regional relations.

Valdet Hoxha, a security affairs expert, believes that Aleksandar Vučić remains committed to a political course that undermines stability in the Balkans, combining his involvement in the negotiation process with provocative language toward Kosovo. Speaking to “Bota sot,” Hoxha stressed that the incidents in Banjska and at Ibër-Lepenc are evidence that such rhetoric must not be ignored.

According to Hoxha, Vučić rules in an autocratic manner, following in Slobodan Milošević’s footsteps, but with even more cunning tactics. He participates in the dialogue, signing various agreements and presenting himself as cooperative, while at the same time keeping a warmongering spirit alive through statements opposing Kosovo’s independence and fabricating stories about threats to the Serb community there. He added that the terrorist attacks in Banjska and at Ibër-Lepenc, carried out by groups financed, trained and organized in Serbia, confirm the seriousness of the threat, as established by investigations conducted by the Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office with the assistance of international partners.

Hoxha underscored a well-known truth: Serbia retains its territorial ambitions toward Kosovo. He argued that neither the political elite, nor the hegemonic and genocidal policies, nor the appetite for ethnic cleansing in Kosovo have changed in Belgrade. For this reason, he said, Kosovo must exercise extreme caution on two fronts. First, by increasing its defense capabilities through an army modeled on NATO standards and by developing a “Smart Defense” concept with partners such as Albania, Croatia and Bulgaria. Second, by strengthening its alliances and aligning its defense strategies not only with the United States as a strategic ally, but also with the United Kingdom and the European Union countries that were involved in Kosovo’s liberation and state-building.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Muhamet Racaj, an expert on security, defense and geopolitics, said that Vučić’s words are part of a political narrative intended to keep the Kosovo issue unresolved and use it to serve Serbia’s domestic and foreign interests. He warned that this conduct heightens tensions and harms both the dialogue and stability in the region.

Racaj assessed that the Serbian president’s statements during the officers’ graduation ceremony were not merely ordinary rhetoric, but part of an ongoing effort to keep the Kosovo issue alive as a political tool. According to him, this clashes with the spirit of dialogue, the concept of good-neighborly relations and the goal of lasting stability in the Western Balkans. When a president addresses a new generation of military personnel by describing Kosovo as Serbian land and assigning the armed forces a political mission, he sends a signal that openly challenges the sovereignty and integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. This fuels mistrust and calls regional security into question rather than promoting peace.

He also argued that dialogue requires acceptance of realities and respect for international agreements. According to him, Serbia cannot claim to be committed to normalizing relations while its leadership denies Kosovo’s statehood and uses language that runs counter to the European Union-mediated process, eroding the credibility of the entire mechanism.

Racaj further stressed that the modernization of the Serbian military takes on an intimidating dimension when accompanied by a political agenda against a neighboring state. This is even more concerning in a region burdened by a history of conflict, where the perception of a threat has a direct impact on overall security. The use of Kosovo as an issue in political discourse serves to mobilize nationalist sentiment and consolidate power by diverting public attention from domestic problems. Historically, exploiting national issues for domestic political interests does not bring stability, but instead generates needless tensions and obstructs the development of sustainable relations in the region.

In conclusion, Racaj said the region needs leadership that promotes peace and cooperation, not language that revives narratives from the past. Regional stability, he concluded, rests on mutual respect, recognition of state sovereignty and cooperation, and any statement that undermines these principles increases uncertainty and jeopardizes the entire region’s path toward Europe.

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A new report from the Council of Europe notes that Kosovo has made progress in building a diverse media landscape and improving legislation, but stresses that serious challenges remain in protecting journalists and ensuring a fully free environment for the press.

The findings were presented during the publication ceremony of the document prepared by the fact-finding mission of the Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists. Mary-Ann Hennessey, representative of the Council’s office in Pristina, explained that this platform serves as a mechanism that brings together international institutions, journalists’ associations, and civil society organizations to quickly signal threats to press freedom and to prompt coordinated responses from member states and partners. She added that even though Kosovo is not yet a member of the organization, the platform and its partners continue to monitor the situation and follow the reports of fact-finding missions.

Present at the event, the representative of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Boguslaw Gertruda, emphasized that media freedom and the protection of journalists are key pillars of democracy and essential elements of the country’s European integration path. He noted that these aspects are being carefully assessed in the framework of the EU enlargement process and that creating a favorable environment for independent journalism requires avoiding denigrating rhetoric, a fair legal framework, as well as prompt investigations and efficient judicial procedures to punish attacks on media professionals.

For her part, the Ambassador of Finland to Kosovo, Eevamari Laaksonen, acknowledged the significant steps in consolidating the legal framework, but warned that the report highlights ongoing difficulties. According to her, addressing these problems is indispensable to strengthen democratic institutions and advance European integration, emphasizing that a free press and independent institutions are not a final reward, but the foundation on which this journey must be built. Laaksonen added that editorial independence, transparency of media ownership, and high professional standards are just as vital as the protection of journalists.

Meanwhile, Agron Maxhuni, representative of the Kosovo Judicial Council, announced that judicial cases affecting the media are handled with priority, in accordance with the strategic plan for access to justice. He explained that, thanks to cooperation with partners and civil society, priority cases have been categorized, and this group includes all civil and criminal cases related to media institutions, thus ensuring special attention from judges specialized in the civil field.

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