Why Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija best trust KFOR: increasing eviction from north, main problem – security – politics

Research, which was done in the period from June to December 2024. years, it has shown that one of the key problems for Serbs – security.

The publication of the research results was delayed in three months in the security perception in four municipalities in northern Kosovo, which formed new focus groups with Serbs in northern part of Kim, Miodrag Milićević from NGOs of active.

What did the research show?

The key data of this research is that 91.2 percent of respondents believe that the situation in Kosovo does not take place in good direction, while only one in ten respondents agree that life for Serbs in Kosovo will be better in three years. Political instability as a main problem sees 57.9 percent of the surveyed, Milićević pointed out in the Belgrade « Media Center ».

Confidence in political parties is weak – specifically, 72 percent of respondents do not trust any political party or politician, which is a voice of the Serb community at the local or central level.

That their personal safety during 2024 was threatened, 29.1 percent of respondents from the north of Kosovo pointed out. A total of 18.1 percent of respondents, both north and south of Ibar, stated that their or safety of their narrower family was endangered in the previous year.

As many as 70.9 percent of the respondents from the Near Kosovo, respondents know someone who left Kosovo’s space in the past year, and a total of 66 percent.

Compared to 2023. year, the growth of belief will be noted that the JCC will be formed – 25.8 percent.

The brightness of the research pointed by Milićević, the growth of trust in the media with whom they report in Serbian.

He added that the alarming data was that 67.7 percent of the surveyed Serbs did not participate in the census, which was conducted by Pristina last year. This will, as he mentioned, have consequences for budget distribution and further data in public.

Research is a measure and four key areas related to the Serb community: political situation, economic situation, security and material condition.

« 2023. year was one of the key, marked by numerous incidents, and the situation was dominantly. The entire report was not promising, and very little about participation in the political life of the Community that was threatened, » Milićevic stated.

He also pointed out large deviations in connection with the economic and security situation between the north and the rest of Kosovo.

Dominated by pessimism – only every tenth respondent believes that the situation will be better, while the overcompoling most does not believe in a significant improvement.

The abolition of payment turnover in dinars by Pristina left the deep consequences – almost 90 percent of respondents hit.

When it comes to trust in politicians and parties, as much as 86.9 percent of respondents did not want to answer the question to which Serbian politicians or foreigners believe in Kosovo.

This means, it is stated in the publication, that there is no specific politician to whom the Serbian community believes. Of those who wanted to declare:

• The Serbian list believes 2.8 percent,
• Serbian democracy 1.4 percent,
• Mayor of Novi Brdo, Sashi Milovanović – 1.2 percent,
• Serbian Democracy President Aleksandra Arsenijevic – 0.8 percent.

The distrust was culminated in 2023. years, and the confidence in the mentioned political actors, as the Milićević lists, symbolically.

The most confidence enjoys KFOR

Serbs in Kosovo have the most confidence in KFOR, which is assigned a maximum assessment 2.55, followed by:

• Government of Serbia (2.49),
• Kim Office (2.33),
• OSCE (2.31).
• Below them are: Government of Kosovo, Serbian ministers in the Government of Kosovo and other actors.

Dragisa Mijačić, from the Institute for Territorial Economic Development, pointed out that the first time after 25 years, the greatest conflict of KFOR is enjoyed. This, as he says, indicates the need for a community for physical security.

EU trust in the rise, Russia still a key ally

As a key international allies, Serbs in Kosovo see Russia (44.7 percent), while in the growth and trust in the EU (21.9 percent).

Brussels negotiations record support growth – from 18.2 percent in 2023. at 29 percent in 2024.

Only one in five respondents (25.8 percent) believe in improving Serbs in Kim. The ZSO is seen as a key point, and a quarter of respondents believe it will be formed, while 46.7 percent believe it will not.

The division of the territory (delimitation) does not support 48.1 percent of respondents. The research shows that such a move would lead to a quick departure of Serbs south of IBRA – 52 percent would leave their residence.

11.3 percent of respondents are advocated for the status quo.

The security situation was strongly influenced by migration. The culmination was 2023. year, when 83.6 percent of respondents knew someone who left Kosovo.

In 2024. year, 66 percent still knows someone who left Kosovo – interpreted that the good part had already left, so the number is slightly lower.

Specifically in northern Kosovo, 70.9 percent of citizens know someone who left Kim in the previous year.

When asked if there were primary school students, 77.1 percent of respondents answered.

In the north, 10 percent of respondents do not have Kosovo documents.

Savković: Serbs show exceptional persistence

Marko Savković, one of the authors of research from the ISAC Fund, pointed out that universal dissatisfaction was present and that no one considers that the security situation is good.

« One of the focus group quotes is, ‘repressive measures of police and populist measures in Prishtina affected poor safety, especially in the north, which is why one part of the citizens left Kosovo forever, » Savkovic said.

He concluded that Serbs survive within the years, which for years, excludes them, to show exceptional persistence, but also that there is a high degree of ethnic distance, although more and more Serbs accept Albanians as friends.

« The Kosovo society moves backwards – remains to be seen whether much is irretrievably lost, and what dialogue has passed, » Savkovic concluded.