A sign depicting the Kosovar city of Peja as part of Serbia was placed for several hours at an intersection in Rozaje, Montenegro, an act that sparked numerous reactions in both Kosovo and Montenegro.

This incident occurred despite the fact that Montenegro has recognized Kosovo as a sovereign state since 2008 and has established full diplomatic relations with it.

Pljevlja is governed by pro-Serbian parties, often supported by Belgrade, which have historically resisted Montenegro’s pro-Western policies, including the recognition of Kosovo.

Following widespread reactions, the “provocative” sign was removed.

Among those who reacted was artist Kaltrina Hoti, who lives in Plav. On April 5, she stated that the sign had been placed with the approval of the Mayor of Plav, Nihad Canovic. She said that such an act is not only offensive to Albanians in Montenegro but also poses a risk of ethnic division and new tensions. According to her, the approval of this sign implies a silent institutional endorsement of Serbia’s claims over Kosovo.

“The approval by the Mayor of Plav, Nihad Canovic, to place a sign suggesting that Peja (Kosovo) is part of Serbia has created a dangerously tense ethnic climate in the region. The sign, which implies that Montenegro supports Serbia’s claims over Kosovo, is not only offensive to the Albanian minority in Montenegro but also risks deepening ethnic divisions and potentially leading to unrest,” Hoti wrote on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on Sunday she posted a photo showing that the sign had been removed. In another video she posted, Canovic is seen speaking with workers who told her that the sign had been installed at the request of the mayor.

“Who was right? I want to thank everyone who criticized me and tried to tell me I was wrong (especially some Albanian speakers). Now the sign is gone. Now Nihad Canovic must fulfill his legal obligation toward the Albanian minority by placing all traffic signs in both languages,” wrote Hoti.

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they followed the case of the road sign placed in Murino, with the inscription “Pec Srb”, with concern, calling it “unacceptable in content and contrary to the spirit of good neighborliness and mutual respect between states.”

According to them, immediately upon receiving information about the case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, through the Embassy of Kosovo in Podgorica, took the necessary steps to address the issue with the relevant institutions of Montenegro.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora informs the public that following this institutional engagement, the sign in question has been removed. The Ministry welcomes this action by the Montenegrin authorities and considers it an important step toward preserving good neighborly relations and fully respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo,” the Ministry’s, statement reads.

The Government of Montenegro has not officially commented, even though the sign risked straining diplomatic ties with Kosovo. Serbia’s influence in Montenegro has long been a point of contention, especially since Montenegro’s independence in 2006, with Belgrade often using local politics to challenge Kosovo’s statehood.

Incidents like this reflect a broader pattern of symbolic provocations in the Balkans, where signs, flags, and other symbols are often used to assert territorial claims or stir nationalist sentiment.

This action comes amid a tense regional climate in which Serbia, backed by Russia, continues to challenge Kosovo’s statehood in every international forum. Through its influence over Serbian communities in Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgrade seeks to pursue a hybrid foreign policy that combines nationalist rhetoric with symbolic actions, such as the placement of this sign.

These moves are part of a wider strategy aimed at destabilization and undermining the Euro- Atlantic integration of the region’s countries.

*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”