A meeting of the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) failed on Friday after a heated debate among members over the unresolved resignations of Serbian judges who left the Kosovo justice system in 2022.
The issue, which was listed as the ninth point on the agenda and had been expected to lead to discussion and decision-making, was never reached after disagreements over the agenda itself prevented the council from moving forward. The meeting ultimately collapsed after three KJC members boycotted the session, leaving the body without the necessary quorum.
KJC member Bashkim Hyseni criticized the fact that the resignations of Serbian judges had not been addressed earlier, arguing that the issue should have been treated as a priority.
“This should have been the first point on the agenda because these resignations have remained unresolved for years, without a constitutional and legal basis for keeping them pending. The KJC should have decided on this matter long ago,” Hyseni said.
KJC Chairperson Rrustem Thaqi responded that he could not be held responsible for previous decisions, noting that he had only recently taken over the leadership position.
“I cannot be held responsible for this. I do not have an obligation to provide answers for decisions made before my mandate. This issue became active after the acting president submitted a request to the Council,” Thaqi said.
Other members questioned why the issue had not been addressed by previous KJC members, accusing some of raising it only after it became politically sensitive.
“Why was this not raised earlier? Why has it become a national issue only now?” KJC member Artan Abazi said during the debate.
Another member, Fahret Velliaj, called for more respectful communication, saying discussions should follow institutional procedures.
The dispute escalated further when members disagreed over postponing other agenda items. Three KJC members then left the meeting, preventing the continuation of the session due to the lack of quorum.
The issue concerns dozens of Serbian judges who resigned from Kosovo institutions in November 2022 following a coordinated withdrawal of Serbian representatives from Kosovo’s institutions. The resignations came after tensions over the Kosovo government’s decision to replace Serbian-issued vehicle license plates with Kosovo plates.
The withdrawal, encouraged by the Serbian List party, included judges, prosecutors, police officers and other public officials from the Serbian community in northern Kosovo.
The KJC debate follows a recent decision by the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, which rejected requests from former Serbian prosecutors and support staff seeking to return to the Kosovo prosecution system.
