Serbia’s October 25 parliamentary elections have brought renewed attention to the deactivation of Albanians’ addresses in Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac. Albanian representatives say the practice has removed thousands of citizens from official registers, undermined their right to vote and affected their political representation. In these elections, the “Albanian Coalition” won two seats in Serbia’s parliament, which will be taken by Shaip Kamberi and Visar Mehmeti.
Activist Refik Hasani spoke to “Bota sot” about the responsibility he believes the newly elected MPs have to address the issue. He said it was important that Albanians united on a joint list through the “Albanian Coalition” for the October 25 elections. Nevertheless, the final result announced by the Republic Electoral Commission was not what had been expected, although the coalition secured two seats in the new legislature.
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Hasani called for the deactivation of addresses to be included in discussions about the elections. In his view, this systematic state practice constitutes discrimination and a form of ethnic cleansing because it removes even citizens who have the right to vote from the registers.
He says the removal of addresses has had serious administrative, demographic and political consequences for ethnic Albanians native to Serbia. According to Hasani, the reduction in the number of Albanian voters also directly affected the October 25 elections: at least two other MPs failed to receive the votes they needed because Albanians whose addresses had been deactivated had been removed from the electoral rolls.
He says the administrative actions associated with deactivation are systematically changing the demographic and electoral makeup of the Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac region.
Hasani claims the practice affects one in four Albanian citizens of Serbia from the municipalities of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac. He estimates that more than 25,000 Albanian citizens have had their addresses deactivated.
Another consequence of the practice, he says, is the demographic, political and institutional weakening of Albanians, whose participation in public and political life is restricted. Hasani cited the Law on Residence and Temporary Residence, published in the “Official Gazette of RS,” No. 87/2011, saying it is applied selectively and discriminatorily against ethnic Albanians native to Serbia.
Hasani is urging the two “Albanian Coalition” MPs to make address deactivation one of their first priorities in office. He says they should submit written parliamentary questions and an interpellation in the legislature’s opening sessions to seek explanations, information and accountability from the relevant ministry and the prime minister.
Through these mechanisms, he says, they should establish the exact number of people whose addresses have been deactivated across Serbia and compare the situation of Albanians with that of other, non-Albanian nationalities in the country’s municipalities.
Hasani stressed that the MPs owe it to their voters to raise the alarm, draw attention to the issue and act urgently. Among the steps he is calling for is the establishment of a commission to investigate address deactivation.
He is calling for an immediate end to these practices, independent and transparent investigations, publication of the exact number of people affected and the restoration of Albanians’ addresses.
According to Hasani, Serbia’s new government also bears responsibility. It must guarantee transparent, verifiable administrative procedures that are applied equally to every citizen, regardless of ethnicity. He added that the new administration must change the narrative and rhetoric pursued by Aleksandër Vuçiq’s administration.
Hasani is calling for a thorough and impartial review of address deactivation, assessing its legality, proportionality, transparency and nondiscrimination, with international monitoring included.
Finally, he said political developments and the student movement in Serbia could pave the way for changes in relations with Albanians. In his view, the student list’s possible rise to power could offer hope for ending discrimination against Albanians and democratizing Serbia.
