The President is criticized for her statement that over 900 gangs were dismantled in Kosovo

President Vjosa Osmani's statement that over 900 criminal gangs have been destroyed in the last five years has sparked numerous reactions. Criticism from the opposition was widespread, and the president later issued a clarification, which she said was an unintentional mistake. The part of the video where she spoke about this has also been deleted.

President Vjosa Osmani's statement that over 900 criminal gangs have been dismantled in the last five years has sparked numerous reactions.

During the interview given in Berlin for "Politico", Osmani also said that "the Balkan mafia has been hit and that there are no more criminal gangs in Kosovo."

And after the flood of criticism, the president, in a clarification, stated that it was an unintentional mistake and that she was referring mainly to gangs in the north of the country.

"It was clear that what I had in mind was the number of cases. Serbian gangs have been involved in hundreds of cases from voter fraud since 2021, to pressure on Serbian citizens, the introduction of illegal weapons, violence against citizens, burning cars and attacks on journalists. We have 93 cases recorded against KFOR soldiers alone. So, it's hundreds of cases, and what I said was related to the cases. It was an unintentional mistake. The correction was immediately made in the interview, and 'Politico' did not use that part either," Osmani said on Monday.

The reaction of MPs and former MPs from the opposition so far states that with this statement, Osmani has damaged the image of Kosovo.

"'900 criminal gangs destroyed' is not just a false statistic, but a diplomatic own goal scored by Kosovo. This does not indicate success, but gives the world the false message that Kosovo is immersed in organized crime. Kosovo needs dignified, serious and responsible leadership. Of course, the latter is not the only case. The damage remains, despite the clarification, which is proving the lack of seriousness. This is what happens when an attempt is made to use every medium, at home and abroad, to serve its partner at the head of the government", wrote the MP from the ranks of the LDK, Avdullah Hoti.

PDK has also reacted.

"When they were in opposition, they spread stereotypes about Kosovo as if it were the favela of the Balkans. A criminal state, with 900 gangs, drugs, extortion, prostitution... Now that they have come to power, they are trying to eradicate the stereotypes that they themselves have spread. This time with the same doctrine. With the Serbian doctrine of lies," said MP Artan Behrami.

And former PDK MP Hisen Berisha said that this is one of the most disturbing statements that can come out of a president's mouth.

"If, as the president says, Kosovo had 900 gangs, and each of them operated even with the minimum number of only 3 people, then this means that we had at least 2,700 active criminals. The simplest question that arises is: where are these criminals?", said Berisha. 

Meanwhile, the video of the interview, which was originally posted on Facebook by the president, has been replaced with a new link to the YouTube channel. In the edited version, the part where Osmani talks about "dismantling over 900 criminal gangs" has been removed.