Tetovo municipality’s renaming and property sales spark migrant concerns

Bajram Rexhepi wrote a letter to returning Albanian migrants warning of deteriorating conditions in Tetovo, North Macedonia. He notes that the historic Iliria Square has been renamed “Marshall Tito” and that municipal authorities sold surrounding property valued at over €5 million for only €7,000. The letter describes shortages of basic services – water, sewage, waste collection – and claims that new infrastructure projects are poorly planned. Rexhepi also reports that signage no longer includes Albanian language and that administrative offices have become hostile toward residents.

He urges migrants not to seek parking or government assistance, describing the local administration as uncooperative and the city as increasingly “concretised” with limited green space. The grievances reflect broader ethnic tensions and concerns over the treatment of the Albanian community in the region.