French journalist denied entry to Kosovo without explanation

French journalist Frédéric Saillot was denied entry to Kosovo this morning without explanation, Radio Kim reports.

Saillot stated that after two weeks of reporting from Bosnia and Herzegovina, he took a night bus to Kosovo, where customs officers informed him that his entry had been prohibited.

“They asked me what I intended to do in Kosovo. I replied that I was a journalist and that I wanted to go to (North) Mitrovica, Gracanica, and Strpce. They were only able to show me that I was on a list that does not allow me to enter Kosovo. I was astonished and told them that I had already been to Kosovo several times while doing my job, without any problems. They replied that they truly did not know why I was not allowed to enter and asked me to sign the documents I sent you and return to Belgrade on my own,” Saillot said.

Saillot provided the Radio Kim editorial office with the refusal notice he received, which, according to the report, does not state the reason for the entry ban.

“The customs officers asked me when I had last been to Kosovo and whether I had ever had any problems before. I replied that it was in February 2025 and that I had not encountered any issues. I informed the French Embassy in Pristina and the French Minister for European Affairs about this incident, which runs contrary to European values regarding freedom of the press,” Saillot stated.

The journalist has been writing about the Balkans for 22 years, first for the monthly publication Balkans Infos (from April 2004 to 2014) and now for his own website Eurasie Express. He has also published two books about the Balkans: “Rasak” (L’Harmattan, 2010) and “The End of Yugoslavia” (L’Artilleur, 2025).