Tensions continue to rise in northern Kosovo as the last remaining symbols of Serbian authority were removed from the former headquarters of the Provisional Body in North Mitrovica. Earlier today, the Serbian coat of arms and other symbols were covered with Kosovo’s emblem.
The changes followed a police operation last Friday, during which Kosovo authorities, backed by the police, seized the building, removed Serbian flags, signage, and confiscated documents and computers. The building, formerly associated with Serbian governance, is now under the jurisdiction of Kosovo’s Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Veton Elshani, Deputy Commander of the Northern Kosovo Police, stated that the building would be returned to its legal owner, which he identified as the municipality of North Mitrovica. However, the building has already been transferred to Kosovo’s Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
„I know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs works for the entire government. So, if someone needs a building, they can allocate it for them, but how it’s allocated and for what purposes, I don’t have that information,“ said Elshani.
When questioned about the return of the building and the establishment of a new institution while the yellow tape is still up and the procedural process is incomplete, Elshani explained: „The moment we are here, it means that the institution of Kosovo is here. And when we have the key, remove the evidence, change the lock, or whatever, that key is given to the owner, and the owner is the municipality. Then, it’s between the municipality, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the new case, for example. And this particular case has been planned for months.“
In January, the municipality of North Mitrovica decided to allocate the Vojni Remont site to the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs. At that time, Elshani had announced plans for a regional driver training center, though it wasn’t specified that it would be situated in the former Provisional Body building.
Despite the recent tension, the atmosphere outside the former Provisional Body’s headquarters was notably calm this morning, with no protests from workers who had previously sought to return to their jobs. The removal of Serbian symbols continued without incident.
Kosovo’s Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, along with the Driver’s License Issuance Center, has now placed their signage at the building’s entrance, covering the Serbian symbols. Police began the process of removing furniture and items from the building, treating them as evidence in ongoing investigations.
When asked whether all items would be removed, Elshani indicated that the decision rested with the prosecutor. „It depends on what the prosecutor considers as evidence,“ he said, emphasizing that the building was being cleared to return it to its owner.
The ongoing investigation focuses on allegations of document forgery related to the activities of the former Serbian institutions in the building.
Last night, KP summoned five ethnic Serbs, the heads of the now-closed Serb institutions, from the North for questioning regarding the matter. Elshani confirmed that the police had issued summonses to five individuals connected to the case, four of whom have been served. He hinted that the case might involve more than just document forgery, but refused to disclose further details.
The police operation has sparked fears of broader crackdowns on Serbian institutions in the region. However, Elshani denied any plans to target schools or hospitals, despite the heightened scrutiny of Serbian-run institutions.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, speaking from a military base in Loznica, indirectly confirmed the lack of orders to enter schools and hospitals. He dismissed reports of Serbian institutions being shut down, accusing journalists of „fabricating“ stories. Vučić emphasized that „the most important institutions“ remain operational in the North but did not address the recent closures of other institutions, including financial offices, post offices, municipal buildings, and courts.
Read more:
Kosovo Expands Control in North Mitrovica: Serbian Symbols Removed
Workers Rally Amid Continued Closures of Serbian Institutions in Northern Kosovo
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