Nikolic and Pasalic: Serbs in Kosovo are subjected to systematic pressure, basic human rights violated

The Chair of the Committee for Kosovo and Metohija of the National Assembly of Serbia, Danijela Nikolic, met today with the Ombudsman of Serbia, Zoran Pasalic, to discuss the challenges faced by the Serbian and other non-Albanian populations in Kosovo. Pasalic informed her about the initiative of his institution to open an Ombudsman office in North Mitrovica, which would allow citizens in Kosovo access to the protection of their rights and strengthen Serbia’s presence. He requested support in implementing this initiative.

The meeting addressed the issue of unilateral escalatory actions by Albin Kurti on an ethnic basis, highlighted the problem of property seizures from Serbian owners, and the ban on the use of the dinar. Nikolic particularly emphasized the increasingly frequent issue of sexual harassment of women, especially in northern Kosovo, according to the statement by the Serbian National Assembly.

She stressed that the general security and institutional situation on the ground is deteriorating daily, as reflected in numerous cases of violations of the basic rights of the Serbian people and other non-Albanian communities.

She pointed out that over the past year, more than 20 percent of Serbs have left Kosovo due to “systematic pressure, institutional discrimination, and direct security threats from the Albin Kurti regime.”

The conversation also emphasized numerous cases of arrests of Serbs in Kosovo without any material evidence or actual guilt for the alleged offenses.

The case of Igor Popovic, Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, and the reasons behind his unfounded arrest were also mentioned, which further undermines public trust in institutions and fosters an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

The discussion also addressed the need to support the economic empowerment of the Serbian community, stressing that assistance should be provided to the unemployed in Kosovo through institutional mechanisms and cooperation with competent authorities, in order to encourage employment, self-employment, and the retention of young people.

Ombudsman Zoran Pasalic expressed full support for the efforts being made to safeguard the rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo and emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring of the situation on the ground.

He reiterated the initiative to open an Ombudsman office in North Mitrovica and requested support in bringing the project to fruition.

The goal of this initiative is to provide citizens in Kosovo with direct access to the protection of their rights and to strengthen Serbia’s institutional presence under challenging circumstances.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached to intensify cooperation between the Committee for Kosovo and Metohija, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, and the Ombudsman’s Office. Pasalic stated that he would use his international contacts to make fellow ombudsmen more aware of the situation and the challenges faced by citizens in Kosovo.

The two interlocutors agreed that it is essential to strengthen institutional capacities and continuously monitor the situation in Kosovo in order to more effectively respond to the needs of citizens and provide adequate support to the most vulnerable. They concluded that they will continue their cooperation in order to protect human rights and maintain institutional support for the citizens of Kosovo.