Kosovo: Serbian Journalist Svetlana Vukmirovic Repeatedly Denied Entry to Kosovo
The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on Kosovo authorities to lift the ban and respect freedom of press
Location: Kosovo
Date: May 1, 2023
Svetlana Vukmirovic, a journalist for Serbian public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), has once again been denied entry into Kosovo. This marks the latest incident in a series of restrictions imposed on Vukmirovic since 2018. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on Kosovo authorities to uphold the agreements signed with Serbia, guaranteeing freedom of movement. We demand an end to the discriminatory treatment of journalists and urge authorities to respect these agreements without exceptions.
On May 1, Svetlana Vukmirovic, editor of the popular show (The Right to Tomorrow), was again stopped from entering Kosovo. Authorities claim she threatens public order, internal security, public health, and international relations. The Ministry of Interior in Kosovo explains that the Kosovo Police denied her entry because she used an identification document issued by the Republic of Serbia.
Vukmirovic's attorney filed an appeal against the decision, but the Appeals Commission on Foreigners has upheld the ban.
Pravo na Sutra tells stories about the Serb population in Kosovo, and Vukmirovic regularly needs to travel to Kosovo for her reporting.
Vukmirovic's entry problems began in 2018 when her TV crew started experiencing delays at the border crossing with Kosovo. In February 2021, after waiting four days at the Jarinje border crossing, the crew was informed that they could not enter Kosovo for allegedly failing to submit a request to Pristina. However, according to the Agreement on Official Visits, this rule only applies to two categories of officials, not journalists.
In December 2022, Vukmirovic was again banned from entering Kosovo, while other members of her TV crew were allowed to enter. This inconsistent treatment has raised concerns about the targeting of Vukmirovic due to her profession as a journalist.
Kosovo — with a majority ethnic Albanian population — declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. The United States and several European Union nations recognize the country. With the backing of its influential ally Russia, Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo's independence, a stance shared by most ethnic Serbs residing within Kosovo.
Relations between the governments of Pristina and Belgrade have been deteriorating in recent months. Unfortunately, press workers and journalists have suffered an alarming number of violations due to the rising tensions. CFWIJ documented 11 attacks on women journalists covering demonstrations in Serb-majority towns in north Kosovo for three weeks in May and June 2023.
In a shocking decision in June 2023, the Kosovo government suspended the popular TV channel Klan TV business license due to suspicion of misuse of official duties and economic authorizations. The European Federation of Journalists criticized the decision as an attempt to apply political pressure. However, in August 2023, the Commercial Court ruled against the suspension, allowing the TV channel to continue operating in Kosovo.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism is concerned over the targeting of Svetlana Vukmirovic and calls on the government in Pristina to provide a clear explanation for the repeated denial of entry. We also urge authorities to stop weaponizing access to intimidate journalists. The situation raises significant concerns about press freedom and the ability of journalists to report on essential issues in the region.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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