U.S.: Corruption in Kosovo, violence against minorities, attacks on journalists

U.S.: Corruption in Kosovo, violence against minorities, attacks on journalists

The U.S. ambassador to Pristina, Philip Kosnett, stated on March 14 that Kosovo was still blocked by corruption, that violence against minorities was present, that journalists were attacked and that foreign citizens were expelled outside the proper procedure.

Kosnett made this statement in the context of the U.S. Department of State's report on human rights.

The report reads that Kosovo's problems included attacks against ethnic minorities, endemic government corruption and threats and attacks against journalists.

The State Department also cited unsatisfactory return of refugees or asylum seekers as problems.

Attacks against Kosovo Serbs continue, the U.S. foreign ministry stated, citing the assassination of Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic as an example.

In the first seven months of 2018, there were more than 100 incidents – thefts, verbal attacks and damage to property of Kosovo Serbs and the Serbian Orthodox Church, the report reads.

The State Department concluded that ethnic communities in Kosovo, like Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, Turks, Bosniaks, Gorani and others, faced various forms of institutional and social discrimination. They are discriminated against in employment, education, welfare services, use of language, freedom of movement and in the right to return.