Kadime Selimi, an ethnic Albanian from southern Serbia, has special needs and has been living in the care of her sister’s family in Kosovo for the past two decades.
Forty-three-year-old Selimi, from Serbia’s Bujanovac municipality, is fully dependent on the support of her sister and her sister’s husband in Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje. Her only identity document was a Yugoslav ID issued in Serbia, which expired a long time ago. Despite her relatives’ efforts, it has not been possible for Selimi to get Kosovo documents.
Kosovo’s Ministry of Internal Affairs told BIRN that Selimi did not fulfil the criteria for a Kosovo identity document.
“The application of Ms. Selimi is suspended because the necessary documents have not been completed according to the legislation in force for the provision of a residence permit in exceptional circumstances,” it said.
On March 15, when Kosovo’s law on foreigners will be fully implemented, Selimi’s family fear that her situation may become even more precarious. The law stipulates that individuals entering Kosovo for employment, family reunification, education, or other legal grounds must report to the police within 72 hours and obtain a residence permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.