Albanians in Serbia’s Preševo Valley march against discrimination

Preševo, September 23, 2024 - Thousands of ethnic Albanians marched through the streets of Preševo, a municipality in southern Serbia, on Monday, calling on the government to end longstanding discrimination against their community. The peaceful protest, held under the slogan “for identity and dignity,” marked the second demonstration in recent weeks, with locals demanding the end of address passivation, better political representation, and the recognition of Kosovo university diplomas.

Ardita Behluli, a member of the protest's organizing council, emphasized that the march was a cry for justice and equality. "We walked past state institutions that continue to discriminate against Albanians, even though 95% of the municipality’s population is Albanian. Our demands include the immediate cessation of the passivation of our addresses and an end to the discriminatory practices that plague local employment," Behluli stated.

The protestors’ grievances include the absence of a local court, which they are asking the government to reinstate, and a call for greater institutional integration. Local leaders also highlighted the failure of the Serbian government to uphold previous political agreements aimed at improving the rights of Albanians in the region.

The issue of address passivation—a practice where the state invalidates the registered addresses of ethnic Albanians—has been a focal point of contention. Activists argue that the policy effectively disenfranchises residents by making it difficult for them to access services or even vote.

Behluli also called for more international oversight, urging bodies like the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to step in and monitor the situation in the Presheva Valley more closely.

Ethnic tensions in the Preševo Valley have remained since the conflict in 2001 between Serbian forces and Albanian insurgents, who fought for greater rights. Despite a ceasefire, political representatives say the region has seen little progress since, with discrimination continuing to impact the everyday lives of the area’s 60,000-strong Albanian population.