After six years of political silence, the chairman of the Independent Liberal Party (SLS), Slobodan Petrovic—once the main political leader of Kosovo Serbs—has spoken publicly for the first time in an interview with KosovaPress, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the party’s founding. He says the SLS has been in a “frozen” status since 2020 due to electoral irregularities, political pressure, and a lack of institutional support.

According to him, the absence of dialogue, the politicization of key issues, and the dysfunction of institutions have made Kosovo Serbs feel “afraid.” However, he remains reserved regarding the terrorist attack in Banjska, Zvecan, and refuses to take a position on former Serb List deputy leader Milan Radoicic, who claimed responsibility for the attack in which police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed.

He argues that the Serb List has no real influence in Kosovo’s institutions, while institutional representation of the Serb community remains fragmented and ineffective. Petrovic says this situation has directly contributed to the emigration of Serbs, calling it a loss not only for the Serb community but also for Kosovo’s institutions themselves.

In the interview, Petrovic also speaks about electoral processes in Kosovo, which he says have been accompanied by continuous irregularities, undermining trust in democracy and preventing free political competition—especially for Serb political entities that are not part of the Serb List. He stresses that these circumstances were the main reason why the SLS suspended its political activity, while waiting for the creation of minimum conditions for free and democratic action.

“Otherwise, the Independent Liberal Party has been in a frozen status since 2020, as is widely known. The reasons were clearly stated at the time, and today it is being confirmed that we were right. That is, due to various pressures—namely electoral irregularities—and a very visible lack of support, if I may say so, from Kosovo’s institutions together with the international community. And when institutions do not do their job, politics has very little space. Therefore, for the reasons I mentioned, we decided to freeze our political engagement until the moment when minimum, basic conditions for free political action in Kosovo are created,” he says.

Petrovic does not rule out a return to the political scene.

“As I said, the SLS has been in a frozen state since 2020. At that time, we said that if institutions and internationals accept that vote theft, we will not be part of that legitimacy. The SLS will return when conditions for normal political life are created. As for my personal engagement, I will invest my energy in two things: dialogue and responsible politics. In what form this will happen, time will tell. During these six years, I have not been active in daily politics because it is not correct to criticize without having the opportunity to set an example,” he says.

The Serb List, which won nine seats in the Assembly of Kosovo in the December 28 elections, is boycotting institutions, operates in line with Belgrade, and has been accused of links to criminal structures. Asked whether he faced pressure from this party or from official Belgrade during the six years he stayed out of active politics, Petrovic remains reserved.

He also does not comment on the Interpol-wanted former Serb List deputy leader who claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Banjska, Zvecan, where police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed.

“I’m not at all on that topic, to be honest I have no interest,” he says.

He is also not critical of the propaganda that Serbia continuously directs at Kosovo, while acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has addressed the Serb community several times in their language to ensure accurate information.

Petrovic says the strong support citizens gave the Vetevendosje Movement in the December 28 elections is the first major test for the acting prime minister. Regarding Minister Rasic, Petrovic says: “The Serb List has no influence in Kosovo’s institutions, while Rasic cannot be a ‘superman’ who manages to inform everyone and solve all problems.”

“Propaganda has existed from the beginning; this is nothing new. They talked a lot and worked against me and the party I led as well, so this is something that is part of political life. But I am saying that it should primarily be a priority for Albin Kurti—as the holder of institutions and as the person who received the most votes, together with his party—to begin implementing what he himself promised, namely dialogue and negotiations. This certainly will not solve all problems; it is impossible. The Serb List has no influence whatsoever in Kosovo’s institutions, this is evident. On the other hand, we have Rasic, who is a minister and not a ‘superman’; he cannot reach all sides to inform everyone, and so on.”

He describes the result of the early parliamentary elections held on December 28, in which Vetevendosje won 51.10 percent of the vote according to preliminary results, as “beautiful.”

“Therefore, dialogue and that activity should begin as soon as possible. I am very sure that very soon those topics that were easy and easily solvable will return as serious problems—especially after the electoral process where Albin Kurti and Vetevendosje received more than 50 percent support. That is a big thing; it is beautiful. But the next day it becomes a much greater obligation and responsibility. The larger the percentage, the heavier the burden for Albin Kurti and the government, which will have to resolve certain topics as soon as possible. In the coming period, I expect many demands and pressures from international partners for agreements that have been agreed and signed to be implemented.”

According to Petrovic, the focus of the Government of Kosovo, Serbia, and the international community should be dialogue. He bypasses the fact that Serbia has not implemented previous agreements, shifting responsibility to Kosovo.

“First of all, I do not know why this Association has become such a big problem and something abstract. I was in Brussels in 2013 when the agreements between Kosovo and Serbia were reached. Dialogue has no alternative. Whoever is faster and more successful will have more opportunities to move forward. If I were in Albin Kurti’s place, I would resolve these issues first because they are international obligations that serve citizens’ interests. A ‘bogeyman’ has been created out of something that in essence is not like that. Dialogue, as we can see, is at zero point. I expect greater pressure from internationals in the coming period,” he says.

Petrovic also spoke about the trial in The Hague of former KLA leaders Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi. He says that during the defense, cooperation with the Serb community after 1999 was mentioned.

He recalls that he served as deputy prime minister when Thaci was prime minister and as deputy speaker of the Assembly when Kadri Veseli was speaker.“Our cooperation was more than correct, and there is no need to add or remove anything from that. Simply, that is how it was,” Petrovic says.