Marsenic: Pristina has blocked the return of displaced Serbs; Danica Gasic's case is not an isolated incident

Pristina has completely blocked the return of displaced persons, while the international community ignores the widespread intolerance and unwillingness to facilitate the return of Serbs to Kosovo, said sociologist Marija Marsenic from the Institute for European Studies. She pointed out that the recent stoning of returnee Danica Gasic's apartment in Djakovica is a clear example of this.

"It is essential to ensure that returnees are protected from discrimination, have full participation in public life, access to public services, social protection, freedom of movement... But what we see is that the so-called Kosovo authorities, who like to call themselves champions of democracy, have completely blocked this. It is also important to note that the international community, in all its reports, either does not mention this issue—one of the longest-running refugee crises—or relegates it to minor notes, entirely ignoring the widespread intolerance and resistance to the return of Serbs to Kosovo and Metohija," Marsenic stated in an interview for Kosovo Online.

Commenting on the Strategy for Resolving the Issues of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons for the Period 2024–2030 adopted by the Serbian Government, Marsenic said that returns are only possible to areas where Serbs form a majority population.

"The greatest chances for return are in northern Kosovo and Metohija, in the four Serbian municipalities: North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok. Additionally, there are areas like Gracanica, Strpce, as well as Velika Hoca and Orahovac, where established Serbian communities exist, as these regions, besides having ethnic compactness, are relatively safe for living," she said.

Marsenic is convinced that returns to other parts of Kosovo are absolutely impossible.

"Returns to other areas of Kosovo, such as Urosevac, Djakovica, Pec, Pristina, and other predominantly Albanian regions, would be entirely impossible because returnees would face serious security threats as well as significant legal and administrative challenges," she emphasized.

She explained that even returning to predominantly Serbian areas requires fulfilling numerous preconditions.

"The conditions for the return of forcibly displaced Serbs to Kosovo and Metohija are dire. Theoretically, a series of preconditions would need to be met, such as security stability, institutional support, resolution of property issues, reduction of ethnic tensions, and more, to make this practically feasible," Marsenic explained.

She pointed to the most recent incident as evidence—the stoning of the apartment of Dragica Gasic, the only Serbian returnee in Djakovica, on the eve of her family patron saint day, Aranđelovdan.

Marsenic noted that Gasic has faced severe challenges from the start.

"She has endured intimidation, break-ins, searches, and an inability to purchase basic necessities in Djakovica because Albanians simply refused to sell to her. As a result, she had to obtain basic supplies from the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija. Even after three years since her return, the restitution process is moving very slowly and remains extremely complicated. We’ve also seen numerous cases where Serbian homes are broken into while their owners are away. They have faced thefts and searches, sending a clear message that they should not return and that it is dangerous to go back to their homes," Marsenic warned.

She added that similar issues have been faced by returnees in the villages of Ljubozde and Dubrava, where they encountered graffiti referencing the KLA and similar intimidation tactics.

"This demonstrates that the entire process is riddled with systemic issues that discourage Serbs from returning to Kosovo and Metohija," she said.

Another major obstacle, according to Marsenic, is that many Serbs cannot return because their property has been seized or destroyed, and those who decide to return face the threat of being accused of war crimes.

"We know that much of Serbian property has been illegally occupied, seized, or destroyed. In many cases, houses have been burned, lands confiscated illegally, and apartments transferred to third parties. Another critical issue is that Serbs who decide to return to Kosovo and Metohija after a long time and attempt to resolve property disputes are faced with indictments for war crimes," Marsenic warned.