​Price hikes, Kosovo joins supermarket boycott

In Kosovo, starting Monday, a group of citizens are expected to join an initiative to boycott supermarkets due to the ongoing price increases. Such an initiative was initially taken in several countries in the region.

For this boycott, a group of citizens has been created on social networks who call for support for this initiative for a boycott in Kosovo on February 10. According to them, it is high time for the responsible authorities to react to the situation created with high prices. While the same people say that some basic products are cheaper in European countries than in Kosovo. Meanwhile, this initiative is also supported by economists and the "Consumer" Association. While the latter estimates that the era of fraud and speculative prices is over.

More details about this initiative have been provided to KosovaPress by one of the founders of the initiative, Xhevat Kastrati. He emphasizes that the main goal is to create a platform where citizens can express their complaints about high prices. While he underlines that there has been a long time that citizens have complained about price increases and that they have not received reflection from those responsible. While he says that this initiative aims to raise awareness among citizens and all stakeholders involved that this situation cannot continue.

"The goal is to create awareness among all citizens, but also to create a platform for citizens to express their complaints, because we know that for a long time now citizens have been complaining about price increases and their concerns are not being resolved, and they are not finding answers. One of the other goals is to create awareness among all stakeholders involved that citizens can no longer tolerate being denied their rights as consumers. There are speculative prices that do not represent the real value of the product. We have seen with different examples in the group that many products are much more expensive here than in foreign countries. But, I believe that the next government should also do something to regulate price movements... I believe that we will be very united as citizens and let it be known that until there is a price reduction, we will not give in to boycotting, we also want the competent bodies to have a more open discussion soon," says Kastrati.

Read too "KOSOVO BOYCOTS", citizens with initiative to boycott markets on February 10 due to high prices

According to him, so far there are about 5 thousand people who have joined the "Kosova Boycott" group, but he expects support from a wider audience.

"So far, in less than a week, we have 5 members in the group. But, we have many more people who have spread the news and seen it. So I believe that almost every citizen in Kosovo has heard from their circle, family or society about the initiative and I invite them to follow the boycott, because it is for their good... The boycott is against prices... On February 10, they should boycott purchases and I believe that this is the way in which citizens become one and their complaints are addressed", adds Kastrati.

Citizens have strongly supported this initiative. Hasan Osmani, a Kosovo citizen, says that prices are rising out of control, and that they will join the boycott to show solidarity with the initiative.

"Prices are increasing as they want, you can't stop them...(we're doing it) harder...We're going to join them, what can everyone do, including us," says Osmani.

Citizen Ajshe Murtezaj has also expressed concern about the high prices, saying that not much can be done with 100 euros, and it is necessary for citizens to unite to address this problem.

"We will attach them, because this is not right, what can we do with 100 euros, we will attach them... Everything is more expensive here compared to the salaries we have," says Murtezaj.

Citizen Fatime Statovci also emphasizes that the prices are too high for the Kosovo budget and that she will join the initiative to call for a price reduction.

"The prices are too high, too high for the Kosovo budget... We will join the initiative. Under these conditions, it is very expensive. We are barely making ends meet with pensions and child support," says Statovci.

Meanwhile, economist Liridon Alidemaj, while supporting the initiative, says that this is necessary to address price abuses. Alidemaj emphasizes that product prices in Kosovo are higher than those in countries like Germany, where wages and living standards are higher.

"Regarding the initiative that has been made by the citizens of Kosovo regarding the boycott of supermarkets, it is appropriate. This initiative is good because if traders, or supermarket owners, or even other companies, are alleged to have abused prices, as citizens we must raise our voices and react. If we compare dairy products, you can find cheaper ones in Germany, butter or others, it depends on what product, the brand is on the market. If we compare with the standard, it can be cheaper, because the average salary in Germany is higher, the standard is higher," says Alidemaj.

On the other hand, the president of the "Consumer" association, Selatin Kaçaniku, also supported the initiative, emphasizing that the era of fraud and speculative prices is over. According to him, prices in Kosovo are rigged and should be lower than in the countries of origin, adding that Kosovo needs trade representatives who would monitor the progress of exports and imports.

"All citizens, consumers of the Republic of Kosovo should support it for many reasons. It is a proper and appropriate initiative, the era of fraud and speculative prices is over... Every imported item has been more expensive than products in the countries of origin. We must take into account the fact that the Republic of Kosovo does not yet have trade or commercial representatives in our embassies, who would have the task of monitoring the progress of exports from where for us it would be an import. Because the prices are rigged, excessively high and it should be the opposite, because every country subsidizes its exports, which means that in Kosovo every price should be cheaper than in the country of origin," says Kaçanik.

We recall that, angered by the continued price increases, citizens of several Western Balkan countries were invited to boycott purchases in several large grocery stores on January 31.

Such an initiative has started in Croatia and has spread to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and is soon expected to launch in North Macedonia.