Kosovo’s anthem in the “Serbia” hall – organizer and Serbian media react

As expected, there have been numerous reactions after Kosovo’s anthem was played in the “Serbia” hall on “Serbia” Square in East Sarajevo. East Sarajevo is part of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while judokas Flaka Loxha and Distria Krasniqi made the anthem’s playing possible after winning gold medals in the Balkan Senior Championships on Saturday.

For the first time, Kosovo’s anthem has been played in Republika Srpska. This entity, where Serbia’s influence is very strong, does not recognize the state of Kosovo and does not allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to recognize Kosovo.

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Kosovo’s judokas competed in Republika Srpska for the first time and won five medals at the Balkan Championships for adults.

Before Kosovo’s anthem was played, most of those present left the “Serbia” hall. Some remained seated, not showing respect for the anthem, while a few of those present stood up. The anthem was stopped halfway through, while the medals awarded featured Serbian motifs. Kosovo’s judokas returned the medals while posing for photographs, and their success, although at a modest event, made headlines.

Pressure from local Serbs on the leadership of the Judo Federation of Republika Srpska is very strong. Kosovo’s anthem is also being used in political clashes among Serbs, while the Judo Federation of Republika Srpska has also responded following intense pressure.

“Since the main issue at the Balkan Championships is the playing of the anthem and the participation of the representative team of (the so-called) Kosovo, we have an obligation to clarify that (the so-called) Kosovo is a permanent member of the European and International Judo Federations as well as the International Olympic Committee, and as such has earned the right to participate in all competitions organized by these bodies. The organizers of international competitions are obliged to abide by the rules of the European and International Judo Federations. If the rules are violated, the organizer and the federation will face severe penalties, which could include expulsion from the EJU and IJF, which would be catastrophic for sport and athletes in Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Judo Federation of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina will notify the EJU and IJF and request that the instigators of all the negative developments at the Balkan Championships, for which we have evidence, be sanctioned, as they have caused great harm to the most successful sport in Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the statement reads.

On Monday, Serbian media also reported on Kosovo’s national anthem being played in East Sarajevo, once again made possible by the judokas.

“Unprecedented scandal. The anthem of the fake state ‘Kosovo’ in the ‘Serbia’ sports hall,” reads the headline in the newspaper “Kurir”.

“Scandal – the ‘Kosovo’ anthem in the middle of the ‘Serbia’ hall,” reads the headline on the “Mondo” outlet.

Other Serbian media outlets have headlines along the same lines.

Serbian judokas did not take part in the Balkan Championships because of Kosovo’s participation.

Kosovo’s judokas are highly successful. They already have five Olympic medals. Their list of world and European medals is very long. Balkan medals are hardly even counted.

The judokas have made it possible for Kosovo’s anthem to be played in Russia and for Kosovo’s flag to be displayed in that country. Now they have made headlines by enabling Kosovo’s anthem to be played in Republika Srpska, where anti-Kosovo and anti-Albanian attitudes are similar to those in Serbia and, in some cases, even more pronounced.