The Chairman of the Albanian National Council (KKSH) in the Preshevo Valley, Nevzad Lutfiu, announced that Serbian authorities have deactivated 200 addresses of Albanians in southern Serbia during the period January–July 2025.
According to Lutfiu, 174 addresses were deactivated in Presevo and 26 in Bujanovac, noting that some figures for Bujanovac are still pending verification. He described this action as “racism and pure ethnic cleansing.”
Address deactivation means removing citizens from the official registers of residence, resulting in the loss of Serbian citizenship and civil rights, including:
- The right to vote
- Property ownership
- Health insurance and pension rights
- Employment opportunities
International reports, including the U.S. State Department, have highlighted that address deactivations have disproportionately affected Albanians, especially in Medveđa.
This situation has prompted reactions from Kosovo institutions. Acting Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi emphasized that protecting the rights of Albanians in Serbia is a necessity. On August 13, he met with the Albanian MP Shaip Kamberi, the Mayor of Presevo Ardita Sinani, and the KKSH Chairman Enkel Rexhepi, discussing discriminatory and oppressive policies against Albanians.
At the same time, Kamberi submitted a draft resolution to the Serbian Parliament, calling for:
- Recognition of the discriminatory approach toward Albanians
- Institutional commitment to improve the position of the Albanian community in Presevo, Bujanovac, and Medveđa
- Implementation of the agreements from 2001, 2009, and 2013
- Immediate suspension of address deactivations
