The recent enactment of the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Vehicles has generated considerable anxiety within Albanian residents of the Preševo Valley. A substantial number of citizens from Preševo, Medveđa, and Bujanovac frequently reside and work temporarily in Kosovo, and they harbor fears that these new regulations could result in heightened discrimination. Local political leadership is strongly advocating for the government to refrain from applying these laws to the area’s inhabitants.
They are actively seeking assurances of equal treatment and simplified mobility and residency requirements. The situation is particularly poignant for individuals like Fatlind Azizi, a young man from Preševo who has spent nearly a decade living and working in Pristina. Azizi has submitted six applications for a permanent permit to reside, yet he remains without this crucial document.
He currently holds a temporary residence permit spanning six years, but lacks citizenship. He describes the processes as excessively bureaucratic and burdensome. The residents of the valley are concerned about the potential impact of these laws on their daily lives and access to services.
Topics: #residents #valley #laws
