For the first time, a case concerning the passivation of residential addresses of Albanians living in Serbia has been officially registered in Strasbourg.
The case concerns the six-year address passivation of Teuta Fazliu from the municipality of Bujanovac. Her complaint has been registered by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Her lawyer, Drin Grazhdani, confirmed that the case has been classified as a priority and explained the next procedural steps and expectations.
“When Your Address Is Passivized, You Feel Like You’ve Lost Your Identity”
Fazliu said the case carries deep personal and collective significance:
“It is of special importance because when your address is passivized, you feel as though you have lost your identity. You have no documents, no registered address — it is a great pain for those who have experienced it. I am doing this first for myself and then for all Albanians who have been passivized.”
Her address was reportedly passivized in 2020 by Serbian authorities. She said she followed all legal procedures:
- She appealed to Serbia’s Ministry of Interior, which rejected her complaint, stating she did not reside at the address.
- She then filed a case with the Administrative Court.
- Finally, she appealed to the Constitutional Court, requesting a review of potential human rights violations.
After five years, the Constitutional Court responded that there had been no violation of her rights.
A Landmark Case for the Presheva Valley
The registration of this complaint marks the first time the issue of address passivation affecting Albanians in Presheva, Bujanovc, and Medvegje has reached the Strasbourg court.
Fazliu described the development as a source of hope:
“This is a very important step for Albanians in the Presheva Valley. This green light from the Strasbourg Court gives hope and confidence that addresses may be restored. Mine is the first case accepted for review.”
Her lawyer emphasized that the registration of the complaint at the ECHR represents a significant legal milestone.
Background
Since 2020, Serbian authorities have reportedly carried out large-scale address passivation in the three predominantly Albanian municipalities of southern Serbia: Presheva, Bujanovac, and Medveđa.
The case now moves forward under international judicial review, with potential implications for the civil and political rights of affected residents.
