The Albanian community in Medvegja in the Presevo Valley in Serbia have sent a letter to the OSCE Ambassador to the country, calling for assistance in addressing the issue of reported ethnic cleansing by administrative means in the region.
As first reported by Exit, Albanians in the Presevo Valley have been subjected to passivisation instruments that have left them unable to continue living there. This involves the suspension of Albanians’ permanent addressees, leading to the suspension of citizenship rights, the right to healthcare, education, and various other rights.
Serbia is Depopulating Presevo Valley from Albanians at Alarming Levels
In a letter addressed to Ambassador Jan Braathu, representatives of the local Albanian community spoke of their surprise over the “complete disregard of the Albanians of Medvegja” concerning the restarting of dialogue on the matter. They said they have not been informed of the resumption of the dialogue, by the OSCE, Serbian government, or the Albanian National Council, despite it directly impacting them.
“The Albanians of Medvegja cannot be left out of any kind of dialogue with the Serbian state authorities. The violations of the rights of Albanians in this municipality are widely known and too great not to consult the Albanian political representatives of Medvegja at all,” the letter states.
It continues that the United Nations has confirmed that more than 90% of Albanians from Medvegja were displaced during the 1999-2000 armed conflict. More specifically, it continues, up to 6000 Albanians were displaced due to violence and therefore cannot be considered economic migrants.
Since then, the letter reads, the Serbian authorities have adopted various policy measures to prevent displaced Albanians from returning home. These include investments that favour the Serb community and the mass passivisation of residential addresses.
“The second measure is nothing more than an attempt by official Belgrade to change the ethnic structure in Medvegja. As it has been implemented in practice, suspension of Albanians’ permanent addresses is leading to suspension of the citizenship rights of the members of the Albanian minority in Serbia. This is taking place in clear violation of a number of laws of the Republic of Serbia and its Constitution, and it is in violation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities which Serbia has signed,” it adds.
They invited the ambassador to Medvegja, noting that during previous visits, Braathu “did not find time to pay us a visit in Medvegja,” but added that the ambassador’s presence is more important than ever.
The letter is signed by members of the Municipal Assembly of Medvegja, political activists, representatives of the Albanian community, and civil society organisations.
How passivisation works
Helsinki Committee: Serbia Engages in Administrative Ethnic Cleansing in Presovo Valley
Ethnic Albanians of Serbia have been under pressure from the state to leave their home, through what they claim are provocations, harassment and violence since Kosovo declared its independence in 2008.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, Helsinki Committee, etc have reported extensively on this issue.
These citizens were left in poverty, which was used to make them leave their properties and move to Kosovo, North Macedonia or elsewhere.
The latest move by Serbian authorities to encourage the depopulation of Albanian-majority areas is de-registering them from their addresses.
In November 2011, Serbia adopted the Law on Residence of the Citizens which gives the authorities the right to physically inspect houses where citizens live. According to this law, authorities must verify if the persons are living at the address they declared. If it is concluded that the person no longer lives there or lied about the address, then this address is “passivated”.
After being notified, the person has eight days to complain or they are de-registered as a resident of that area.
De-registered citizens have no right to renew their documents and are excluded from several rights, such as the right to vote, receiving public services such as health, education, etc and their properties can be taken over by the state.
Around 50,000-70,000 ethnic Albanians live in the territory of Serbia.
Exit Explains: How Serbia’s Ethnic Albanians Are Being De-registered
