Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti highlighted the struggle of ethnic Albanians in the Presevo Valley in southern Serbia, calling it “silent ethnic cleansing” following elections that were “neither free or democratic.”
Over 6200 Serbian citizens of Albanian ethnicity have been illegally removed from voter lists in the region over the last few years. This deprives them of the right to vote and renders them stateless and unable to access health care, education, or even buy or sell property.
Ethnic Albanians Removed from Voter Lists ahead of Serbian Elections
Following the recent parliamentary, presidential and local elections in Serbia, Albanian parties in the region lost much of their representation, as many of the electorate were prevented from voting.
Kurti met with political representatives of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac to discuss the issue.
“Albanians in Presevo, Medvedja, and Bujanovac have been done a great injustice through the passivisation of over 6000 addresses in these municipalities,” he said.
“This is a silent ethnic cleansing that is bringing great consequences. This method of Serbia, which denies citizens the basic and democratic right to vote, means the elections were neither free or democratic.”
The prime minister continued that the Albanian community in these areas, are suffering under discriminatory and oppressive policies of Belgrade. These require increased vigilance, determination and preservation of political unity between Albanian entities.
Kurti warned of a potential intention to overthrow the current Mayor of Presevo, Ardita Sinani and said that division is wrong and damaging.
Serbian officials including the central electoral commission and the Ministry of the Interior have refused to answer questions on the situation for Exit.
When asked prior to the elections, the European Commission said only that they were aware and monitoring the situation and that the rights of ethnic minorities would be addressed during the appropriate chapter in the EU accession process.
