On Tuesday, a judge from Kosovo’s Basic Court in Pristina stated that it has been proven that Serbian officials attempted to separate northern Kosovo from the rest of the territory and attach it to Serbia.
The remark was made by Judge Ngadhnjim Arrni during proceedings related to the ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia over the status of the northern municipalities, where ethnic Serbs form a majority and have resisted integration into Kosovo’s institutions since the country’s declaration of independence in 2008.
Northern Kosovo has remained a focal point of discord, with Belgrade continuing to fund parallel structures in the region, including health, education, and security services, despite international agreements aimed at normalizing relations.
The European Union has facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade since 2011, seeking to implement the Brussels Agreement, which calls for the integration of northern Kosovo’s institutions into Kosovo’s framework whereas guaranteeing protections for the Serb community.
However, implementation has stalled, with Kosovo accusing Serbia of undermining its sovereignty by maintaining illegal parallel institutions, and Serbia arguing that Kosovo’s actions threaten the rights and safety of Serbs in the north.
Judge Arrni’s statement reflects the judiciary’s increasing involvement in addressing what Pristina views as systematic efforts to destabilize its control over the entire territory.
The Kosovo government has previously filed charges against individuals and entities accused of supporting parallel structures, citing laws against terrorism and organized crime, though such cases often face challenges due to limited cooperation from local Serb communities and Serbian authorities.
International actors, including the United States and NATO, have reiterated their support for Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while urging both sides to comply with EU-facilitated agreements.
As of the latest reports, no formal response has been issued by Serbian officials regarding the judge’s remarks, and the Basic Court in Pristina has not released additional details about the evidence presented to support the claim of proven attempts to divide the territory.
