The Serbian National Forum (SNF) has addressed an open letter to the European Union Office in Kosovo, the OSCE Mission, the embassies of the Quint countries, the Embassy of the United States, KFOR, and other international organizations operating in Kosovo, expressing what it describes as deep concern over the “escalation of unilateral actions by the authorities in Pristina” and the deteriorating position of the Serbian community. The letter raises concerns over the demolition of Serbian-owned properties in the Lake Gazivode area, the stalled return of Serbian judges and prosecutors, the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the University of Pristina temporarily seated in North Mitrovica, and this year’s Vidovdan events at Gazimestan. The Forum also calls on the international community to take a more active role in safeguarding the rule of law, protecting the rights of the Serbian community, and encouraging dialogue.
Below we publish the Serbian National Forum’s open letter in full:
OPEN LETTER
Serbian National Forum – Gračanica
To the European Union Office in Kosovo, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, the Embassies of the Quint countries, the Embassy of the United States of America, UNMIK, KFOR, as well as all relevant international organizations operating in Kosovo
Regarding the Escalation of Unilateral Actions by the Authorities in Pristina and the Deteriorating Position of the Serbian Community in Kosovo
27 July 2026
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Serbian National Forum expresses its deepest concern and strongly condemns the latest unilateral actions undertaken by the institutions in Pristina, which continue to deepen the political crisis, undermine interethnic relations, and jeopardize the fundamental human, civil, and property rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo.
The recent demolition of holiday homes and family houses owned and used by Serbs in the Lake Gazivode area represents yet another in a series of unilateral actions carried out by the authorities in Pristina. Instead of allowing any property-related disputes to be resolved through legally prescribed judicial procedures before competent courts, the authorities resorted to force and administrative measures, denying the owners the opportunity to establish their property rights through due legal process. Such actions seriously undermine the rule of law and send a message that equal legal standards are not applied to all communities in Kosovo.
This incident is not an isolated case but rather a continuation of a broader policy of unilateral actions pursued by the Government of Kosovo under the leadership of Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
We recall that, prior to these events, garages belonging to Trepča were removed in North Mitrovica without proper jurisdiction and contrary to established legal procedures, further increasing tensions and insecurity among the local Serbian population.
Particularly concerning is the fact that, following efforts aimed at facilitating the return of Serbian judges and prosecutors to the judicial system and restoring the proper functioning of a multiethnic judiciary, the authorities in Pristina rejected every meaningful opportunity for compromise. In doing so, they missed an important chance to strengthen institutional cooperation with non-majority communities and restore confidence in Kosovo’s institutions.
At the same time, we continue to witness increasingly frequent public attacks against the Serbian Orthodox Church. Of particular concern are attempts by self-proclaimed religious representatives to appropriate Serbian monasteries, churches, and the cultural and historical heritage of the Serbian people. The absence of an adequate response from the institutions in Pristina to such actions further encourages attempts to undermine the spiritual and cultural identity of the Serbian community in Kosovo.
Additional pressure is also being exerted on the University of Pristina with temporary seat in North Mitrovica through attempts to undermine its functioning or place it under the control of the authorities in Pristina. Such actions represent a direct attack on the Serbian community’s right to education, preservation of identity, and institutional continuity.
The Serbian National Forum is also deeply concerned about the continuing practice of illegal construction in predominantly Serbian municipalities by individuals of Albanian ethnicity, as well as the subsequent legalization of such illegally constructed buildings. At the same time, Serbian citizens frequently face administrative measures, demolitions, and restrictive procedures regarding their own property. This unequal application of regulations creates the perception of selective law enforcement and raises serious concerns regarding equal treatment before the law. We call upon the competent institutions and the international community to ensure that legal standards are applied equally to all citizens, regardless of ethnicity.
Furthermore, we express our serious concern regarding the events that occurred this year at Gazimestan during the commemoration of Vidovdan. Numerous reports and publicly available recordings indicate the extensive deployment of Kosovo Police special units, restrictions on the display of Serbian national flags and other Serbian national symbols, identity checks, detentions, and the use of coercive measures against Serbian citizens attending a peaceful religious and cultural gathering. Such actions raise serious concerns regarding the proportionality of police conduct and the protection of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, and cultural identity, as guaranteed by internationally recognized human rights standards.
Taken together, these developments demonstrate a deeply troubling pattern of conduct by the current authorities in Pristina. Instead of promoting dialogue, compromise, reconciliation, and confidence-building, they continue to pursue policies that generate insecurity and deepen divisions. Rather than implementing long-term strategies focused on economic development, job creation, improving living conditions, and encouraging cooperation between Serbs and Albanians, unilateral measures continue to dominate public policy, making everyday life increasingly difficult for the Serbian community.
We believe that invoking legal procedures cannot justify actions which, in practice, result in discrimination, intimidation, and sustained pressure on one ethnic community. Such policies contribute to the continued departure of Serbs from Kosovo, undermine the prospects for peaceful coexistence, and seriously call into question the European values that the international community seeks to uphold.
We are deeply concerned that the cumulative effect of these developments is creating an atmosphere in which members of the Serbian community increasingly feel insecure about their future in Kosovo. Such circumstances risk accelerating demographic changes through the departure of members of non-majority communities. It is therefore of the utmost importance that every institution entrusted with maintaining peace, security, and the rule of law responds in a timely and impartial manner in order to preserve stability, protect human rights, and prevent any actions that could further endanger interethnic relations.
We further emphasize that the protection of the rights of non-majority communities constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of European values and an essential prerequisite for the democratic development of any society. Any departure from these principles deserves the serious attention of the international community.
Therefore, we call upon the European Union, the OSCE, the Quint countries, the United States of America, UNMIK, KFOR, and all international organizations mandated to operate in Kosovo to:
- Clearly and unequivocally condemn unilateral actions that undermine the rule of law and the security of the Serbian community;
- Insist that all outstanding issues be resolved exclusively through dialogue, competent institutions, and independent judicial proceedings;
- Ensure the effective protection of the rights of the Serbian community, including its property, religious sites, cultural heritage, educational institutions, and fundamental civil liberties;
- Closely monitor the implementation of legal standards in property disputes and urban planning matters, ensuring equal treatment for all communities without discrimination;
- Prevent every form of political or institutional pressure that may contribute to the displacement of members of non-majority communities;
- Play a more active role in facilitating sustainable dialogue among all communities and institutions.
At the same time, the Serbian National Forum reiterates its full readiness to participate in joint meetings with representatives of international organizations, institutional representatives, civil society organizations, and all relevant stakeholders in order to establish an open and constructive dialogue aimed at restoring trust, strengthening interethnic relations, protecting the rights of all communities, and creating conditions for a stable, democratic, and prosperous society in Kosovo.
We firmly believe that only dialogue based on mutual respect, equality before the law, respect for human rights, and adherence to internationally accepted democratic standards can lead to lasting peace, stability, and a shared future for all citizens of Kosovo.
Respectfully,
Presidency of the Serbian National Forum – Gračanica
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