Baraliu: Serbia's measures on Kosovo violate international law

Professor of Constitutional Law Mazllum Baraliu points out that the Serbian government’s recently adopted Draft Law on the Organization and Jurisdiction of Judicial Authorities for Prosecuting Crimes Committed on the Territory of Kosovo is unlawful and that Kosovo already has a social assistance budget that includes support for Serbs.

Baraliu emphasizes that Serbia is violating international law with these draft laws.

“It is as if we decided to enact a law to prosecute people in Puerto Rico or any other country. It is illogical and unconstitutional because it encroaches on the jurisdiction of another country. Kosovo is recognized by 118 or 114 countries, which means this isn’t just a legal violation but is also unacceptable to the West, which sometimes adopts bureaucratic and compromise-based solutions that don’t truly resolve issues,” Baraliu said.

Regarding social assistance for Serbs in Kosovo, Baraliu points out that Kosovo has its own budget for social welfare and that Serbs in Kosovo already receive some support from Serbia.
He views Serbia’s decision as political and believes that its intentions are unlikely to succeed.

“Kosovo has 124 categories covered by various forms of social assistance. Kosovo allocates its own budget accordingly, and as for the Serbian community, they are already supported by packages from Serbia amounting to up to 800 million euros or even more, though it is unclear where this aid goes. Yet, many people from all communities still live in poverty. Serbia cannot achieve this. I consider it a political move,” Baraliu concluded.