Right-wing groups in Belgrade staged a protest on March 17 under the slogan “For Serbian Kosovo and Metohija,” opposing recent laws adopted in Kosovo. The rally was organized by 13 right-wing parties and movements, including the ultranationalist group Obraz.
The protest was triggered by Kosovo’s Law on Foreigners and Law on Vehicles, which entered into force on March 15. Demonstrators argued that these measures could negatively affect members of the Serbian minority, particularly in sectors such as healthcare and education, which in Serb-majority areas still operate under Serbia’s system.
According to reporters from Radio Free Europe, several hundred people gathered near the Serbian Presidency building in central Belgrade. After speeches, they marched toward the Russian Embassy to express gratitude to Kremlin, which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Around 200 protesters waved Serbian flags and banners featuring Vladimir Putin. Nationalist songs were played, while chants such as “We will not give up Kosovo” and “Treason” were heard. Among those present was Serbian MP Branimir Nestorović.
During the protest, Slobodan Samardžić, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, claimed that Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo—particularly in healthcare and education—are under pressure and at risk.
Kosovo authorities have introduced mitigating measures, including issuing temporary 12-month residence permits for members of the Serbian community lacking Kosovo documents, and recognizing Serbian-issued ID cards. These steps were welcomed by European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The Law on Foreigners is expected to affect Serbian citizens living, working, or studying in Kosovo without local documentation. For example, individuals affiliated with institutions such as the University of North Mitrovica may now require residence or work permits—procedures that could prove complex due to Kosovo’s non-recognition of Serbian institutional structures.
Student representative Luka Arsenijević addressed the crowd, stating that young people continue to hold Kosovo “in their hearts, minds, and prayers,” while suggesting future political change could alter the situation.
Also speaking was Mladen Obradović, leader of the ultranationalist group Obraz. He rejected claims that Serbia had achieved any success in negotiations with Kosovo, criticizing policies that require Serbs to obtain Kosovo-issued documents.
Following the speeches, protesters marched to the Russian Embassy, expressing support for Russia and referring to it as a “brotherly nation.”
