Seventeen hours until polling stations open, Kosovo Online remains the only media outlet without accreditation

Seventeen hours remain until polling stations open for Kosovo’s local elections, and Kosovo Online remains the only Serbian-language media outlet denied accreditation to cover the electoral process.

Following the decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC) two days ago to deny accreditation to several Serbian-language media outlets, Kosovo Online submitted an appeal to the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP), but that body has yet to issue a response.

In its appeal to ECAP regarding the CEC decision rejecting accreditation for 18 observers from this media outlet, it was argued that the Commission had “misapplied substantive law,” specifically Article 48 of the Law on General Elections and Article 4(3) of the Election Regulation, and requested that ECAP overturn the CEC’s decision and grant accreditation to journalists and camera crews to cover election day.

VIM INFO, the founder of Kosovo Online, noted in the appeal that it had fully met all the requirements set forth in Articles 47, 48, and 49 of the said law, and that even the CEC itself had confirmed in the reasoning of its decision that Kosovo Online “meets all criteria for accreditation and observation of the 2025 local elections.”

“In other words, this decision reflects only the political will of members of the Central Election Commission appointed by political entities,” the appeal stated, also pointing out procedural irregularities, since the CEC issued its decision 14 days after the submission of the application, although the election regulation stipulates a two-day deadline for approving or rejecting media accreditation requests.

In the meantime, the CEC adopted a new decision last night, accrediting 28 local and international media houses to observe the local elections, but among Serbian-language outlets, only Kosovo Online was excluded.

This prompted reactions from journalists, who welcomed the change in the CEC’s stance but expressed disbelief over Kosovo Online’s continued exclusion.

“The good news is that almost all Serbian-language media have now received accreditation thanks to the strong engagement of journalistic associations and colleagues. However, the exclusion of Kosovo Online without valid and justified explanation is incomprehensible and represents discrimination against one media outlet — something we will oppose just as we have stood up for all of us before,” said Ivana Vanovac, president of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija (DNKiM).

Zivojin Rakocevic, president of the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), stated that the accreditation issue for the local elections represents a scandal that, for the first time in peacetime, punishes media outlets and journalists on the basis of ethnic and linguistic affiliation. He added that the consequences of this scandal cannot be undone — neither by granting accreditation to journalists nor by banning Kosovo Online’s work.

“We will defend Kosovo Online’s rights with the same strength as we have defended all of ours so far. Regardless of what the CEC decides, Kosovo Online will on Sunday have the most news reports, stories, videos, and photos. Even Albanian colleagues are offering to volunteer. So, gentlemen from the CEC, just write that paper: Kosovo Online is allowed to work,” Rakocevic emphasized.

In the original CEC decision denying accreditation to Kosovo Online and other Serbian-language outlets, the Commission stated that the portal met all the requirements but that there were not enough votes “in favor” among CEC members.

At the session held on Thursday, 9 October, CEC member from Self-Determination, Alban Krasniqi, opposed the accreditation of Serbian-language media, claiming that “media from Serbia are known for propaganda, slander, and conducting special warfare against Kosovo.”