Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, accused Serbia of legitimizing systematic discrimination against Albanians living in southern Serbia.
In a post on X, Bislimi criticized the Serbian Constitutional Court’s decision to reject an appeal by Safet Demiri, a resident of Medvegja, seeking to restore his residential address.
“[The decision of Serbia‘s Constitutional Court] violates fundamental human rights and shows why Albanians lack trust in the system and hesitate to initiate legal proceedings,” Bislimi stated.
He shared excerpts from the court’s decision, which claimed Demiri had no intention of permanently residing at the submitted address. The decision also argued that, while freedom of movement and residence is guaranteed by the Constitution, these rights “are not absolute” and may be restricted under Serbian law.
Bislimi condemned the reasoning, asserting that it highlights how Albanians’ rights are eroded through unjust and discriminatory interpretations, reflecting a lack of democracy and respect for fundamental human and minority rights in Serbia.
Earlier on November 20, the Mayor of Preshevë, Ardita Sinani, also reacted to the court’s decision.
Sinani stated that Serbia’s highest court is “legitimizing ethnic cleansing and discriminatory passivization of Albanians in the Preshevë Valley.”
