Alarm: Over 45 thousand Kosovars renounced Kosovo citizenship

Since declaring independence until now, over 45 thousand Kosovars have renounced Kosovo's citizenship. This figure is considered high and disturbing for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

MPB Division leader Liridon Neziri has told Kosovo that since 2009, about 5 thousand people per year have renounced the citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo.

This phenomenon is happening, according to Nezir, because some European Union countries where Kosovo citizens live do not allow two citizenships for citizens who are not citizens of the European Union.

Neziri: Since 2009, over 45 thousand citizens have so far given up citizenship

“Mbi 45 thousand people have renounced the citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo, we speak in total, from 2009 to the moment we speak. This has nothing to do with the last trains of people who want to live in a European Union state, but is primarily connected to the migration we've had over the years and with people who have already established a base in EU states. They have integrated there and want to live there”, Neziri stressed.

About 70 per cent of those citizens who have given up Kosovo's citizenship are from Germany.

MPB officials have denied lifting citizenship is happening because of no visa liberalisation or socioeconomic situation.

Neziri: Kosovo's citizenship loss top requests from Germany

This is not even related to the visa liberalisation process for free movement, but simply to the state process that is not part of the European Union. Given that Kosovo has enormous migration in European Union countries, mainly in Germany, Austria or even in Scandinavian countries. As for losing Kosovo's citizenship, requirements from Germany lead. This number may say it is relatively large because these states do not allow two citizenships, then our citizens who have already integrated into these European Union countries choose to maintain the citizenship of these countries”, Neziri declares.

According to him, only France and Switzerland do not impose freedom from citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo.

While the total number of exiles in the diaspora is estimated to be around 700 thousand in EU and US states.

Neziri: It Can Be Viewed as Concern

“If we talk about numbers, it can be considered as a concern, but given the circumstances of processes as a state, then a number of about 700 thousand people, or more, in the states of the European Union, do not know how to answer”, he said.

The average age of those who have stripped Kosovo's citizenship is new.

Otherwise, the Republic of Kosovo allows two and more citizenship, while Albania is no more than two citizenships