Kosovo holds credible and relatively well-administered elections. Many public institutions are undermined by corruption, though there are signs that a new generation of politicians are moving to confront corrupt practices through judicial and administrative reforms. Journalists continue to face intimidation, particularly on social media. The rule of law is inhibited by interference and dysfunction in the judiciary.

• A referendum on whether to recall ethnic Albanian mayors in four ethnic Serb–majority municipalities in northern Kosovo was widely boycotted by the local Kosovo Serb population, with less than 300 of an estimated 46,000 registered voters turning out. The referendum thus failed, falling far short of the 50 percent turnout needed to be valid. The mayors’ election in 2024 had sparked large protests, including some that featured violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
• At the end of November, an explosion occurred in the Ibër Lepenc/Ibar Lepenac water canal in Zubin Potok in northern Kosovo. The water from the canal serves to cool two of Kosovo’s power plant, and provides water to a considerable part of the country. The blast was condemned by the Kosovo government and international partners including the European Union (EU) as a terrorist attack on critical infrastructure. Kosovo authorities arrested eight suspects. Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused the Serbian government of staging the attack; Serbian authorities denied the allegation.
• The approval in July of new legislation on the Independent Media Commission (IMC) drew condemnation from the opposition, the Association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Press Institute (IPI), the EU, and many other observers. The law granted parliament greater control over the IMC’s composition, which critics said made the body more susceptible to politicization; contained imprecise registration requirements for online media; and contained vague mandates for the size of fines that could be issued for rule violations. The law was subsequently submitted to the Constitutional Court for consideration.
• In August, Kosovo Serbs protested in northern Mitrovica against the Kosovo government’s plans to reopen the Mitrovica bridge, which connects the Albanian-majority south and the Serb-majority north, to vehicular traffic. In September, Kosovo authorities shut down the offices of five Serbian-run “parallel municipalities” in the north, prompting additional protests among Kosovo Serbs. The demonstrations took place without major incident. The United States and other international partners expressed disapproval of both initiatives by the Kosovo government, which were described as potentially exacerbating regional tensions.

This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.

For additional background information, see last year’s full report.