LAND IS BEING STOLEN FROM SERBS IN KOSOVO: “They usurped 42 acres from me, I am threatened with arrest if I go to my property”

The example of Milisav Živaljević from Peć shows all the difficulties of judicial resolution of stolen property, accompanied by threats of arrest. The latest case of a Serb being arrested for an alleged war crime occurred last Saturday, indicating continued pressure from Pristina on Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

Using forged documents, fraudsters from Kosovo and Metohija are increasingly registering the land of Serbs in Kosovo in their own names. However, it does not end there, as there is almost no protection, and the moment someone tries to resist, accusations and arrests for alleged war crimes during the 1990s are not lacking.

Court in Pristina: One-month detention for arrested Serb suspected of an alleged war crime
Witnesses to such machinations include, among others, lawyer Dejan Vasić and Milisav Živaljević, who had to leave Peć in 1999. Vasić told RTS that the biggest systemic problems are the slowness of the judiciary and a shortage of judges, and that cadastral books represent an additional challenge.

He pointed out that it frequently happens that usurpers accuse Serbs of alleged war crimes.

– This happened before as well, but not enough attention was paid to it. From my practice, with a lot of effort and exertion, I have managed to resolve more than 90 percent of such cases, with the help of colleagues – Vasić states.

Judicial system reform needed in KiM

As he says, there is a systemic problem, shown by the example that in 2025 he received a decision on an appeal from 2007, meaning it took 18 years to resolve the case.

– It is necessary to implement a reform of the judicial system in Kosovo in the part related to civil proceedings, because the problem is not only the stolen land of Serbs, but litigation in general. The reason is a shortage of judges, but also their insufficient training, especially in the Court of Appeals – Vasić stated for RTS.

He adds that the police in KiM respond to criminal reports, but the system is slow and cases drag on for too long, creating the impression that people are powerless.

– It often happens that a Serb who reports a person who has usurped his land is reported by the usurper and ends up in prison under charges of alleged war crimes – Vasić stated.

He added that he certifies powers of attorney with a notary in Montenegro, because Pristina recognizes documents certified there, while it does not recognize those certified in central Serbia.

As he says, the cadastre in KiM is a “story of its own,” because the books were relocated in 1999 and subsequently altered.

– Tricks for seizing land are numerous, but I do not lose hope that through organized and high-quality work, such problems will be eliminated – Vasić stated.

Serb from Peć: They usurped 42 acres from me

Milisav Živaljević from Peć, one of the displaced Serbs whose land was stolen, had to flee in 1999 and now lives in Kraljevo.

His land in KiM has “new owners,” and Živaljević says he inquired whether any of his relatives had sold the land to those people.

– I found out nothing from them or from the court. With great difficulty, I found the case and appealed to the court. They usurped 42 acres from me. I will not give up on my property – Živaljević emphasized.

According to him, they built a house on his land and enclosed it with a two-meter-high gate, making it inaccessible.

– I tried to resolve the dispute in court with lawyer Dejan Vasić, but the people I am in dispute with did not show up for the confrontation. There are many people from Peć whose property has been usurped. I am threatened with arrest if I go to my property – Živaljević said.

The latest arrest case last week

Otherwise, the latest case of a Serb being arrested in Kosovo for an alleged war crime occurred last Saturday when Aca Dejanović from Grnčar was deprived of his liberty, after which the Basic Court of the temporary institutions in Pristina ordered a detention measure of up to 30 days. Dejanović is suspected of committing the “criminal act of war crime against the civilian population” in the territory of the Kačanik municipality.