Serbian employees working in local Serb government institutions in northern Kosovo staged a protest this morning in response to the recent closure of several key offices. The demonstrations took place outside the Provisional Administrative Organ of Kosovska Mitrovica, the Mitrovica District Building, and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija (KiM), which were shut down in last week’s operation by Kosovo authorities.
Protesters, including staff from the Provisional Administrative Organ of Kosovska Mitrovica, gathered at the bus station shortly before 8:00 a.m. and proceeded to the closed institutions. They were met by a significant police presence, including officers armed with long-barreled weapons, and a police armored vehicle stationed nearby. EULEX mission vehicles were also observed in the vicinity.
As the protesters approached, they encountered a yellow tape barrier and were informed by Kosovo Police that the recent closures were related to an investigation into suspected document falsification. The police stated that the investigation was ongoing and that the protests had not been legally announced.
Prior to this, members of the Serbian Democratic Party distributed whistles to the demonstrators, although few used them in protest.
The demonstration also extended to the Office for KiM, the Pension Fund, and the Mitrovica District Building in the Bosniak Mahala area, which were also closed last Friday.
Led by Pension Fund Director Igor Simić, the employees asked if they could return to their workplaces but were denied by the police.
In the meantime, Kosovo Police confirmed that demonstrations had occurred at two locations in North Mitrovica.
They acknowledged that the protests had not been legally announced but affirmed the right of citizens to peaceful assembly.
„The police ensured that necessary measures were in place to maintain public order before, during, and after the protests, which ended around 8:45 a.m. without incident“.
The recent closures are part of a broader crackdown that has seen Serbian institutions in Northern Kosovo shuttered, including municipal offices, the Office for KiM, the Pension Fund, and a public utility. This follows a series of closures earlier this year, including Serbian post offices and financial institutions. Additionally, the Kosovo government has banned the use of the Serbian dinar, enforced the re-registration of vehicles from KM (Kosovska Mitrovica) plates to RKS (Republic of Kosovo) plates, invalidated Serbian driver’s licenses, and prohibited the import of Serbian goods for over a year.
These actions have further strained the situation, leaving thousands of Serbs in northern Kosovo without their physical workplaces following their withdrawal from Kosovo institutions two years ago.
International officials and missions in Kosovo, including representatives from the United States, NATO, and the EU, have condemned the unilateral actions of the Kosovo authorities. They expressed concerns about the impact on the Serbian community and warned that such measures could strain relations with international stakeholders.
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