Statements by Dalibor Jevtić, vice president of Srpska Lista, suggesting that only the United States is addressing the concerns of Serbs over the implementation of Kosovo laws appear to be more political drama than legal reality.
In comments to Euronews Serbia, Jevtić claimed that many Western diplomats are backing Albin Kurti while ignoring alleged problems facing the Serb community. Yet the laws he refers to—the Law on Traffic and the Law on Foreigners—are standard administrative regulations applied across all of Kosovo, not measures designed to target any specific ethnic group.
The Laws in Question
In January, authorities began strictly implementing the Law on Traffic, which states that vehicles with foreign license plates cannot circulate in Kosovo for more than three months unless they are properly registered or authorized.
At the same time, the government started enforcing provisions of the Law on Foreigners, particularly regarding personal documentation requirements.
Far from being a sudden crackdown, the rollout has been gradual and transparent. The first phase involved informing citizens at border crossings and through a public awareness campaign, with full implementation scheduled for March 15.
Routine Rules, Not Ethnic Targeting
Some critics claim that the Law on Foreigners could affect individuals working in institutions linked to the Serbian system, particularly in healthcare and education, if they do not possess Kosovo-issued documents.
But the requirement for work permits or professional licenses for those without local documentation is a standard administrative practice worldwide, handled in Kosovo through the Kosovo Employment Agency.
In other words, the same rules that apply to any foreign national working in a country are now being applied in Kosovo—hardly the evidence of discrimination that some political actors claim.
Political Narrative vs. Legal Reality
Despite the dramatic tone of some statements, no credible evidence suggests that the rights of Serbs in Kosovo are being violated by these laws. What is happening instead is the normalization of legal procedures that apply to everyone equally, regardless of ethnicity.
Observers say such claims often surface in politically sensitive moments, but when examined closely, they tend to collapse under the weight of the actual legal framework.
For now, the facts remain straightforward: Kosovo is implementing laws that regulate vehicle registration and the legal status of residents, policies common in virtually every European country.
