End ethnical cleansing of Albanians in Serbia
The Issue
From the words of Kosovo's president, Vjosa R. Osmani [words between brackets are added comments]:
Silent ethnic cleansing organized by the Serbian state in Medvegja, Presevo and Bujanoc is taking place, right now. [These 3 towns all lie within a few km from Kosovo's border with Serbia and are inhabitated by an overwhelming majority of people who recognize themselves as Albanians and consider that as their first language and heritage].
About 60 kilometers in the north-east of Pristina, the municipality of Medvegja lies. This municipality counted 7438 inhabitants in the 2011 registration. Now, although without official statistics, only 600 Albanians are supposed to be registered in Medvedja. [Once their address is made to show as passive, as Serbia is doing right now, these citizens with Albanian origins can no longer renew their ID cards and passports, access medical services or social assistances, buy or sell property, or vote in any kind of election. If these people have a degree issued by Kosovo, their degree is no longer recognized and they are no longer able to work as a consequence (think doctors, lawyers, engineers who need a degree to exercise). Lands and properties are then confiscated and repossessed from the Serbian state, supported by Russia and China in the EU and the UN].
This systematic reduction of the Albanian population in Medvedja is not random. Privacy from education and employment, violation of language rights and representation, and the continued oppression of the Serbian regime against Albanians in those premises has influenced the influx of the Albanian population, to seek better conditions for their families.
However, over recent years, Medvegja has been targeted by Serbian politics, trying to finalize the evacuation of anyone who speaks Albanian on those sides. During the last four years only Serbian authorities have deleted over 4000 Albanians from the civil registry in the municipality of Medvegja. Through the ' passivation of addresses' of the residence, the Serbian state made the final departure of Albanians from Serbia's civil registry, unable to obtain new documents, the right to access medical services or social assistance, and even leaving the voter list, that makes it impossible to participate in the elections.
The next problem in passing Albanians' addresses in Serbia is also the fact that the Serbian state does not issue a written decision that proves that your address has been passed on. This information is only announced in the mouth. This action is not random: it aims to prevent Albanian citizens from taking legal action against Serbia for violating their rights and discrimination on ethnic grounds.
In addition to Medvegja, the passport of addresses was also evident in two other municipalities with Albanian population, Bujanoc and Presevo. This fact is well known, and even documented by various organizations operating in Serbia and abroad.
Despite the frequent call for help from Albanian activists and activists from Medvegja, their demands remain unaided. The Republic of Kosovo can no longer be silent! The issue of freedoms and human rights of Albanians in the Presevo Valley should be addressed in all instances, both internally and abroad. This is not just an isolated problem: Serbian state actions against Valley Albanians stir up fundamental human rights violations. A state that is actively engaged in ethnic cleansing, although with 'sophisticated' methods such as passive addresses, does not deserve EU membership.
The Issue
From the words of Kosovo's president, Vjosa R. Osmani [words between brackets are added comments]:
Silent ethnic cleansing organized by the Serbian state in Medvegja, Presevo and Bujanoc is taking place, right now. [These 3 towns all lie within a few km from Kosovo's border with Serbia and are inhabitated by an overwhelming majority of people who recognize themselves as Albanians and consider that as their first language and heritage].
About 60 kilometers in the north-east of Pristina, the municipality of Medvegja lies. This municipality counted 7438 inhabitants in the 2011 registration. Now, although without official statistics, only 600 Albanians are supposed to be registered in Medvedja. [Once their address is made to show as passive, as Serbia is doing right now, these citizens with Albanian origins can no longer renew their ID cards and passports, access medical services or social assistances, buy or sell property, or vote in any kind of election. If these people have a degree issued by Kosovo, their degree is no longer recognized and they are no longer able to work as a consequence (think doctors, lawyers, engineers who need a degree to exercise). Lands and properties are then confiscated and repossessed from the Serbian state, supported by Russia and China in the EU and the UN].
This systematic reduction of the Albanian population in Medvedja is not random. Privacy from education and employment, violation of language rights and representation, and the continued oppression of the Serbian regime against Albanians in those premises has influenced the influx of the Albanian population, to seek better conditions for their families.
However, over recent years, Medvegja has been targeted by Serbian politics, trying to finalize the evacuation of anyone who speaks Albanian on those sides. During the last four years only Serbian authorities have deleted over 4000 Albanians from the civil registry in the municipality of Medvegja. Through the ' passivation of addresses' of the residence, the Serbian state made the final departure of Albanians from Serbia's civil registry, unable to obtain new documents, the right to access medical services or social assistance, and even leaving the voter list, that makes it impossible to participate in the elections.
The next problem in passing Albanians' addresses in Serbia is also the fact that the Serbian state does not issue a written decision that proves that your address has been passed on. This information is only announced in the mouth. This action is not random: it aims to prevent Albanian citizens from taking legal action against Serbia for violating their rights and discrimination on ethnic grounds.
In addition to Medvegja, the passport of addresses was also evident in two other municipalities with Albanian population, Bujanoc and Presevo. This fact is well known, and even documented by various organizations operating in Serbia and abroad.
Despite the frequent call for help from Albanian activists and activists from Medvegja, their demands remain unaided. The Republic of Kosovo can no longer be silent! The issue of freedoms and human rights of Albanians in the Presevo Valley should be addressed in all instances, both internally and abroad. This is not just an isolated problem: Serbian state actions against Valley Albanians stir up fundamental human rights violations. A state that is actively engaged in ethnic cleansing, although with 'sophisticated' methods such as passive addresses, does not deserve EU membership.
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Petition created on 22 November 2020