At least two incidents broke out in Zubin Potok and North Mitrovica on Tuesday, when members of the municipal election commissions attempted to enter the MEC premises in the North, accompanied by the Kosovo Police, but were prevented from doing so by the local Serbs. While the incident in Zubin Potok ended peacefully, with the intervention of the police, in North Mitrovica, according to official sources, two explosive devices were thrown at the premises of the MEC, one of which exploded, and the other was removed late last night. The latest events in the north triggered an avalanche of reactions, mostly from Pristina politicians. The ruling structures in Belgrade and Pristina accuse each other of standing behind the incidents, while the opposition in Kosovo is urging Kurti to inform the public about what exactly happened. International representatives called for restraint.
„They tried to break into the municipal election commissions, to occupy the buildings“, and the citizens „rebelled“, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, commented on the latest incidents from Tirana yesterday.
„Due to their decisions and non-compliance with the Brussels Agreement, again contrary to the Brussels Agreement and everything that was agreed, they sent the police and fully armed police officers to the North,“ Vucic said after the EU-Western Balkans summit.
“What’s going on in the minds of people who cause conflict every week,“ he added.
The head of the Kosovo Office, Petar Petkovic, also accused Pristina of „instigating the conflict“.
Petkovic alleged that the Prime Minister of Kosovo wanted to „seize four Serbian municipalities in the north with violence and weapons“ and „set up Albanian representatives in them“ in the upcoming local elections, which he referred to as “illegal and illegitimate.”
Addressing yesterday’s incident in North Mitrovica, Petkovic said that „Kurti’s special forces broke into the premises of the MEC, destroyed everything, trying to set up their electoral commissions“.
The allegations presented by the Serbian side were soon denied by the top Pristina officials, who in turn placed the blame for the incidents in the North on Belgrade.
The Kosovo Police described Petkovic’s claims as „false and tendentious.“ Both KP and the Kosovo Minister of the Interior, Xhelal Svecla, said that the attack on the MEC office in North Mitrovica was carried out by „masked, violent suspects, i.e. groups who used dangerous weapons, including Yugoslav-made hand grenades“.
The highest Pristina officials alleged that „criminals“ supported by the Serbian president are behind these incidents.
In last night’s reaction, the Kosovo Prime Minister announced an increase in the presence of the Kosovo Police in the North due to „armed attacks,“ saying that those responsible for the incidents will be brought to justice.
„Numerous violations of the law will not be forgiven, and criminal destabilization tendencies will fail,“ Kurti said last night.
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said that the new escalation of the situation in the North occurred because „the criminal gangs supported by Vucic politically and financially aim to escalate the situation.“
„They aim to destabilize Kosovo and therefore aim to destabilize the Western Balkans and thus realize Russian-Serbian agendas,“ Osmani said after the summit in Tirana.
The former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, also accused Belgrade, stating that „many Serbs in Kosovo have been used by Serbia to create tensions whenever Serbia needs them“.
„Violent actions in the north are being orchestrated by Serbia. Unfortunately, Serbia continues to use many citizens from the Kosovo Serb community to create tensions in that part of Kosovo whenever Serbia needs it. I am sure that these citizens do not want to live and raise their children in an environment where tensions could arise at any time as per political directives“, said Hoti.
He also said that „violence must not be tolerated“ and that „the heightening of the situation in the North should be prevented through coordinated action with the allies“.
Part of the opposition in Kosovo also believes that Serbia is responsible for yesterday’s incidents, but at the same time accuses Albin Kurti of „retreating“. They demand „more information about the incidents“ from the Kosovo government.
The leader of the PDK, Memli Krasniqi, while accusing Serbia of „attempted destabilization“, said that Kurti „talks about events from Ukraine to China“, while remaining silent about the situation in the North.
„Speak up, Prime Minister!“ Krasniqi said in a Facebook post before Kurti reacted last night.
PDK vice-president Vlora Citaku accused the Kosovo government of not providing enough information about yesterday’s incidents in the North.
„The government keeps us in an informational trap. The only news we get about events in the north of the country comes from the media. Prime Minister, what’s going on? Was there an explosion? Was there any follow-up action by CEC staff? Speak up, prime minister, is Serbia out?“ Citaku said in a Facebook post.
AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj asked Kurti why is he “in a hurry.” At the same time, he assesses that Kurti is „turning Kosovo into a loser“.
„Why are you in a hurry, Albin Kurti, with all the plans, jobs and actions you are carrying out, whether you are trying to set up fictitious elections in the North, whether you are appointing ministers urgently, whether you are at the opposing table… and you always withdraw like you did yesterday and today and turning Kosovo into a loser?“
“Where are the results,” Haradinaj asked.
„Do you want to harm the North by any means, or are you ignorant and have no one to teach you! Cease because you will ruin this country and people,“ Haradinaj said.
LDK also asked the Kosovo government to share a concrete plan for the situation in the North.
They also assessed that cooperation with international partners is necessary, and condemned „attacks on the institutions and constitutional order of Kosovo“.
The Chairman of the Kosovo Central Election Commission said yesterday that, considering the current situation, it is not possible to proceed as planned with the organization of elections in four municipalities in the North, Koha reports.
The Self-Determination MP, Haki Abazi, said that „it is difficult to hold elections in the North in a situation where bombs are being thrown.“
Abazi added that „it would not be the end of the world“ if the elections were postponed.
No reactions arrived from the international community to yesterday’s events last night, which Abazi described as „peculiar and wrong“, claiming that it encourages those who want to undermine security.
„Silence and lack of reaction is an encouraging signal for security violators and groups that attacked the institutions of Kosovo. If violence is not punished, it is a wrong signal to the groups in the north,“ he said on T7, Gazeta Express reports.
In the meantime, the head of the EULEX mission, Lars Gunnar Wigermark, reacted on Twitter this morning, calling for restraint.
“Concerned with yesterday’s incidents in northern Kosovo. Any protests should be peaceful and everyone should remain calm and show restraint. EULEX will continue to monitor the situation in close coordination with Kosovo Police and KFOR,” he said.
The German ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, also expressed concern over the recent events in the north.
“Very concerning indeed,” he tweeted, adding:
“Yesterday’s violence against municipal election offices is unacceptable. Good that KP in coordination with EULEX and KFOR is present. Full support for peaceful demonstrations but zero tolerance for violence.”
Earlier this morning, the US condemned those who employed violence during yesterday’s incidents in northern Kosovo.
The United States is concerned that conditions are not in place at this time for elections to be held later this month in northern Kosovo, the US ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier said.
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