AKR–Guxo coalition in Mitrovica breaks down, director Gani Rrustemi dismissed

After a public clash that began in November 2024 between the mayor of South Mitrovica, Faton Peci, and the former AKR president, Behgjet Pacolli, the AKR–Guxo coalition in Mitrovica has broken down, while the municipal director for Economy, Gani Rrustemi, has been dismissed with immediate effect, as KosovaPress reports.

The Basic Court in Pristina told KosovaPress that it had ruled partly in favour of the claimant Behgjet Pacolli in the lawsuit against Faton Peci for compensation for defamation and insult: Peci was ordered to pay €1,500 for defamation and €1,500 for insult, plus €1,716 in procedural costs, with statutory interest of 8 per cent per year starting from 1 September 2026 and a 15-day payment deadline after the judgment becomes final. The rest of the lawsuit, which sought a public retraction of the statements, was rejected as unfounded.

The court decision relates to posts and statements made by Peci on Facebook on 17 November 2024 and on television programmes on 19 and 21 November 2024. Just a few hours after the judgment, the mayor of South Mitrovica ended the cooperation with AKR and dismissed Rrustemi, who had been appointed director within this coalition on 11 February 2026.

Rrustemi told KosovaPress that he was notified of the dismissal during working hours: “Since the coalition has broken down, I, as a director, was removed as part of the AKR coalition.” He says he does not consider the dismissal related to his work at the municipality and does not intend to contest the decision in court.

The head of the AKR branch in Mitrovica, Gjergj Beka, announced the end of the cooperation in a Facebook reaction, writing that “coalitions end, the dedication to Mitrovica does not”. Meanwhile, the Municipality of South Mitrovica has not yet confirmed whether the dismissal is related to the Court’s decision; KosovaPress says it has approached the municipality for an official position but has not yet received a reply.