Serbia's Parallel Structures Fall in Kosovo

Kosovo ends Serbia's shadow governance, enforcing its sovereignty. The world hesitates, will principles of statehood prevail, or does appeasing Belgrade continue to trump international law?

The Republic of Kosovo has made a definitive move to dismantle parallel Serbian institutions operating illegally within its territory, a decision met with polarised reactions from regional actors and the international community. The closure of these institutions, which had long functioned without authorisation from Kosovo’s government, represents a critical moment in the country's post-independence history and underscores its efforts to assert territorial sovereignty and constitutional integrity. Despite international criticism¹, this action aligns with Kosovo's legal rights under international norms, and the failure of global powers to unequivocally support these efforts raises questions about their commitment to the principles of sovereignty and the rule of law.

Since declaring independence in 2008², Kosovo has faced persistent challenges in consolidating its statehood³. A central issue has been the existence of Serbian-run parallel institutions⁴, including municipal administrations, pos…