Serbia is reportedly interfering in Kosovo's upcoming parliamentary elections on February 9 through hybrid warfare tactics, according to experts at a roundtable hosted by the Octopus Institute on January 28. 

There is a substantial Serb minority concentrated in northern Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. Relations between the two sides have become increasingly tense recently, despite efforts by the International community to normalise the situation., 

Participants at the conference said Serbia’s interference poses a threat to Kosovo’s stability and called on international actors to safeguard the integrity of the February 9 elections.

The Finnish ambassador to Kosovo, Matti Nissinen, told the event that Serbian hybrid warfare against Kosovo includes disinformation campaigns designed to create ethnic divisions and undermine trust in democratic institutions, stressing the need for improved protective measures.

Arben Fetoshi, director of the Octpus Institute, claimed that Serbia employs a combination of political, economic and security interventions to destabilise Kosovo’s democratic order.

He accused the Serbian List, a political entity representing Kosovo Serbs, of being a covert tool for Belgrade’s influence, used to manipulate Kosovo’s electoral processes.

"Serbia has aligned itself with the authoritarian models of Russia and China to pursue its expansionist agenda," he was cited as saying by Telegrafi.

“Serbia’s hybrid war against Kosovo seeks to sabotage its democratic institutions and international consolidation, with the Serbian List acting as a legally disguised mechanism for destabilisation,” Fetoshi said. 

He also alleged that Serbia’s government is mobilising financial and political resources to ensure the Serbian List secures the 10 guaranteed seats for Serb representatives in Kosovo's Assembly, further consolidating its influence.

Recent incidents, such as the terrorist attack in Banjska, underscore these concerns. Fetoshi pointed out that the attack, organised by Milan Radoicic, a deputy leader of the Serbian List, highlights the entity’s role as both a political instrument and a destabilising force.

Serbian journalist Radomir Dimic described Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's regime as "fascist" and criticised the Serbian List as a tool used to undermine democracy among Kosovo Serbs.

Dimić argued that Serbia’s interference extends beyond Kosovo, affecting Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and accused the European Union of inaction.

“Serbia’s hybrid warfare involves misinformation, electoral manipulation, and efforts to destabilise constitutional order in the region,” Dimić said, urging Kosovo’s Serbs to distance themselves from figures like Radoicic.

The event, which focused on foreign interference in elections and its impact on national security and democracy, was attended by representatives of Western states, civil society activists, regional experts and journalists.