NGO organization AKTIV strongly condemns and resolutely rejects the last statements of Gurakuç Kuçi, senior associate of the “Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies Oktopus”, published by the Kosovapress news agency on May 18, 2025.
The accusations against both the NGO AKTIV and civil society organizations from the north of Kosovo, including allegations of waging a “hybrid war”, connections with terrorist structures and attempts to “delegitimize the Kosovo Police” made by Kuçi are absolutely untrue, malicious and dangerous. It is about blatant and deliberately-placed falsehoods that represent a direct threat to the safety of civil society representatives in the north of Kosovo, with the clear intention of delegitimizing the long-term work of organizations which strive to point to serious violations of human rights and systemic discrimination against the Serbian community.
These accusations represent not only severe defamation without evidence, but also knowingly endanger the safety of our team members, damage the professional reputation of our organization and represent a direct attempt to criminalize the legitimate and transparent work of Serbian civil society, both in the north and throughout Kosovo.
The most dangerous and at the same time the most scandalous claim is that NGO AKTIV is linked, without any evidence, to the tragic armed conflict in Banjska, which took place in September 2023. This lie crosses every line of basic decency and represents a direct call for social and institutional persecution against our and other organizations from the north of Kosovo.
Equally shameful is the statement that by pointing to the testimonies of women of Serbian nationality, who report frequent harassment and intimidation in North Mitrovica, the civil sector is “putting itself at the service of parallel and terrorist structures”. Such statements not only target organizations dealing with protection of the human rights, but also further victimize women, including minors, who suffered verbal and sexual harassment. At the same time, they undermine and discourage any attempt to point out institutional failures, especially the deeply damaged trust of women in the work of the Kosovo Police and other competent bodies.
Such accusations are not only an attempt to discredit the work of civil society, but directly contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of lynching, encourage intolerance and violence, and further endanger the already fragile security situation on the ground. At a time when we are recording continuous incidents, arrests and intimidation in the north of Kosovo, this kind of rhetoric has the potential to cause real consequences for the lives and safety of activists who work on protection of human rights.
The ethnically-motivated targeting of our organization through insults against the structure of our team is particularly concerning; that is clearly discriminatory and in direct opposition to the fundamental values of a multi-ethnic society, which are guaranteed by the Constitution of Kosovo and international mechanisms for the protection of the rights of non-majority communities.
Moreover, these accusations serve as a means for distraction from the real and serious problems that Serbian community in Kosovo is facing with, and to undermine the legitimate concerns of its members. NGO AKTIV considers that such an attack is targeted directly at the integrity of our organization, but also of the entire civil society.
Additionally, we emphasize that the Kosovapress agency have not contacted the NGO AKTIV for comments or clarifications, nor have tried to factually verify the serious accusations and targeting that it published. We believe thereby the principles of professional journalism are grossly violated, including the provisions of the Press Code of the Kosovo Press Council, as well as the Code of Conduct of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) for audio and audiovisual media service providers.
Accordingly, NGO AKTIV requests the following:
- Gurakuç Kuçi and the organization “Oktopus” to issue a public apology for making untrue, malicious and dangerous claims against the NGO AKTIV and other civil society organizations. This apology must be delivered to Kosovapress and other media in Kosovo that have reported or might report these allegations;
- The Kosovapress portal, which published the controversial statement without prior checking of the facts, to remove the text from its platform and publish a public apology in accordance with the basic principles of professional journalism;
- The media reporting in the Albanian language in Kosovo, by publishing this announcement, to show their commitment to truthful and responsible journalism and thereby protect their own professional integrity, as well as the space for free and impartial reporting;
- The international community to react urgently and publicly condemn such attacks on civil society, which are increasingly carried out through unfounded accusations and targeting by irresponsible individuals and organizations. Such attacks represent a serious threat to the freedom of action of non-governmental organizations and further narrow the already limited space for civil sector action in Kosovo.
NGO AKTIV remains committed to the protection of human rights, building a democratic society and advancement of non-majority communities rights. We will not allow criminalization of our work, nor will we remain silent in the face of attempts to intimidate and delegitimize organizations that act in the interest of all citizens of Kosovo.
The following organizations jointly stand behind the views expressed in this press release:
NGO Aktiv
New social initiative (NSI)
Center for Affirmative Social Action (CASA)
Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER)
Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC)
Gracanica Online
AWE Avenija
Communication for the Development of Society (CSD)
Center for Social Initiatives (CSI)
Human Center Mitrovica (HCM)
Center for Peace and Tolerance (CPT)
Forum for Development and Multi-Ethnic Cooperation (FDMC)
Environmental Medical Expert Group (EMEG)
