President of Kosovo: “Defending democracy is not a battle you can fight alone”

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President of Kosovo: Defending democracy is not a battle you can fight alone

Olha Konsevych 

Kosovo, a young democracy with its own history of struggle, continues to face challenges. “Defending democracy is not a battle you can fight alone. What happens around you matters greatly,” Dr. Vjosa Osmani shared, speaking to a global audience at the “Vital Voices” Summit in Warsaw.

She raised the question of the personal and collective responsibility that comes with safeguarding European values. 

“Women led the change in the 1990s”

Dr. Vjosa Osmani, elected President of Kosovo in April 2021, is the second woman to hold the country’s highest office. At 42, she has focused on democratic reforms, the rule of law, and Kosovo’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. In 2024, her efforts earned her the European Prize from the Coudenhove-Kalergi Society, recognizing her dedication to Euro-Atlantic values and regional stability.

Reflecting on Kosovo’s progress since its independence, she highlighted the resilience of the country’s democratic institutions: “In the past 16 years of independence, Kosovo has built some of the most resilient and democratic institutions in the region. Our electoral democracy is one of the strongest, not just here, but beyond. We’ve shown the world that even amidst great institutional change, transitions of power can happen smoothly and democratically.”

Civil society, Dr. Osmani noted, played an essential role in defending democracy, particularly during the difficult years of occupation. “The work of civil society under Milosevic’s occupation, and their efforts after we gained freedom, has been instrumental in keeping our democracy strong and fighting even the smallest autocratic tendencies,” she explained.

Reflecting on Kosovo’s progress since declaring independence, Dr. Osmani praised the country’s strong democratic institutions, which have been critical to its resilience.

“Our electoral democracy is one of the strongest, not just here, but beyond. We’ve shown the world that even amidst great institutional change, transitions of power can happen smoothly and democratically,” she remarked.

“It was obvious to us that Russia would attack Ukraine”

Kosovo has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine as it endures the devastating full-scale Russian aggression. President Vjosa Osmani, in addressing the war, stated, “It was obvious to us that Russia would attack Ukraine.” Given Kosovo’s own history with authoritarian violence and its battle for independence, the country has acted swiftly and decisively in supporting Ukraine.

Kosovo consistently demonstrates acts of solidarity with Ukraine and strives to provide assistance. Like Ukrainians, Kosovo Albanians in the 19th and 20th centuries endured national and social oppression. It was only on February 17, 2008, that the parliament of Kosovo declared independence.

The recognition of Kosovo by Ukraine remains a complex issue, but the country expects this step from Ukraine, especially given that most European Union countries and the United States have already recognized Kosovo.

The importance of independent media in an age rife with disinformation

The Balkans remain a receptive region for pro-Russian narratives, particularly in Serbia, where President Aleksandar Vučić has maintained a balancing act, fostering close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin while simultaneously pursuing EU membership. Russian media have found a way to reach European audiences by uploading much of their banned content to these platforms.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, audiences in the Western Balkans have become increasingly vulnerable to disinformation propagated by Russian-backed channels. The region, already marked by political complexities, has seen a surge in false narratives aimed at destabilising public trust in NATO and the European Union. 

For example, in 2024, a Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, presented a documentary called “Putin Calling: Russia’s Disinformation Flows Unchecked Through Balkans”. “The documentary evidences that Kremlin disinformation has influenced some groups in Montenegro and Kosovo with individuals who are sanctioned by the US becoming supporters of Putin in acts of violence and protests in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” authors reported.

In an era of rampant disinformation, the President of Kosovo spoke about the indispensable role of the media: “Despite living in an age of disinformation and propaganda, the media in Kosovo has always been a defender of democracy. Whenever democracy was under threat, important voices in the media fought to restore it and ensure it remained strong.”

This article was produced with the participation of CFI, the French media development agency, as part of the Yak Vdoma project, a hub in Bucharest for Ukrainian journalists, supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Olha Konsevych: Journalist, researcher | Vital Voices | GMF | WZB Berlin | Max Planck Society alumna || Mahabahu Correspondent

21-10-2024

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