A referendum to remove Albanian mayors in four Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo failed on Sunday following low turnout. The Central Commission of Elections of Kosovo declared that until 15:30 only 203 citizens voted in the referendum, with around one percent turnout at the end of the process. The referendum comes at heightened tensions between [...]
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Kosovo Central Election Commission to hold referendums in Serb-majority municipalities
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kosovo officially set April 21 as the scheduled date for conducting referendums regarding the dismissal of four Albanian mayors from municipalities. These mayors, whose elections took place last year, have been a source of heightened tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. Citizens of Serb-dominated municipalities, including North Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zubin [...]
The US and the EU issued statements on Saturday and Friday highlighting their concerns over the Kosovo government’s recent actions in relation to the raiding of Serbian-run organisations, as well as the banning of Serbian currency. The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey M. Hovenier, said that the US government was “deeply concerned about recent actions [...]
Serbia prosecutors investigate detained Kosovo policemen amid calls for their release
Prosecutors in Kraljevo, Serbia began an investigation on Friday into three Kosovo officers who were controversially detained by the Serbian border control. The officers were arrested on Wednesday, and Serbian authorities are investigating whether they committed “nauthorized production, possession, carrying and trafficking of weapons” while active on the Serbia-Kosovo border. Kosovo’s Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu [...]
International community condemns recent attacks against journalists in northern Kosovo
The EU and several international ambassadors Monday condemned recent attacks against television journalists covering the rising tensions in northern Kosovo. Adding to a count from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Monday’s incident marks the fourth time television journalists have been targeted in the region since the beginning of December. In response to the attacks, [...]
The UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) called for the release of its members following their arrest during a Kosovo police operation in northern Kosovo on Tuesday. The police operation, which involved activities in the regions of Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Leposavic, Mitrovica North, Mitrovica South, Skenderaj and Drenas culminated in both citizens and police officers of [...]
UN rights experts: Kosovo mission should be held accountable for lead poisoning
Two independent human rights experts called upon the UN Friday to put into motion a plan to redress damages suffered by internationally displaced persons who were exposed to lead poisoning at camps settled by the UN...
Serbia rights group to appeal fine over war crimes allegations
A Serbian rights group, the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) , announced Tuesday that it will be appealing a fine imposed by the First Basic Court in Belgrade to compensate the Serbian Army Chief of General...
Former Serb general suspected of war crimes against Albanians detained in Kosovo
A former Serb general suspected of war crimes against Albanian civilians has been detained, police and a Kosovo-based human rights group reported Friday. Behxhet Shala of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms and police spokesperson...
UN rights expert urges Kosovo to shift focus towards rule of law
The head of the UN mission in Kosovo said Monday that Kosovo is set to face "complex challenges" this year and should shift focus towards more fundamental issues "such as the intrinsic links between post-conflict development, enforcement of...