"Release of seven Serbian prosecutors"/ EU criticizes Kosovo's decision

2026-07-21 17:53:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"Release of seven Serbian prosecutors"/ EU criticizes Kosovo's

The European Union has criticized the decision of the acting president of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, who decreed the dismissal of seven Serbian prosecutors.

Through a statement, a spokesperson for the European bloc said that Haxhiu's decision, but also that of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPK), does not "appear to be in accordance with the law", recalling that the prosecutors had already announced the withdrawal of their resignations.

"This appears to be inconsistent with the law, due process of law and the general requirements of the rule of law in Kosovo. The EU calls on all relevant institutions to refrain from actions aimed at hindering the reintegration of Kosovo Serb judicial personnel ," the spokesperson said.

Earlier on July 21, Haxhiu announced that he had signed decrees dismissing seven prosecutors from the Serbian community who had resigned from the justice system in 2022.

"With this act, a process that has been prolonged for years is concluded and the decision of the competent institution is implemented, in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kosovo ," Haxhiu wrote on Facebook.

The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council rejected earlier this week the prosecutors' request to withdraw their resignations, submitted in November 2022, when Serbian officials collectively left Kosovo institutions in the north of the country.

This decision was made upon the proposal of the Deputy President of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, Dardan Vuniqi, while a decree from the Acting President, Albulena Haxhiu, was required for it to enter into force.

Haxhiu said that "no one can hold hostage the functioning of institutions" and "nor create legal uncertainty through unfinished processes."

According to her, the Republic of Kosovo "will continue to act decisively, in accordance with the law and in defense of the integrity of its institutions."

Hundreds of Serb officials resigned from Kosovo institutions in November 2022, after the Serbian List - the largest Kosovo Serb party supported by Belgrade - called on Serb representatives to leave the police, judiciary, prosecution and other institutions in the four Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo: North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok.

The collective departure was a form of protest against the Kosovo Government's decision to re-register vehicles with license plates issued by Serbia.

Contacted by Radio Free Europe on July 20, the Kosovo Judicial Council said it has not yet made a decision regarding the requests of Serbian judges to withdraw their resignations.

Ai siguroi se opinioni do të njoftohet me kohë, por nuk dha detaje se sa gjyqtarë dhe punonjës administrativë nga komuniteti serb në veri kanë kërkuar rikthimin në detyrë.

Nga BE-ja më herët gjatë korrikut i thanë Radios Evropa e Lirë se kjo çështje është duke u trajtuar në kuadër të dialogut për normalizimin e marrëdhënieve ndërmjet Kosovës dhe Serbisë. /REL