Students from the University of Belgrade traveled to northern Kosovo this weekend to join their peers at the University of Pristina with temporary headquarters in North Mitrovica in a moment of solemn remembrance—and a powerful display of solidarity.
Gathered in the town of North Mitrovica, the group took part in the 13th “16 Minutes of Silence” commemoration, held in honor of the victims of the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy in Novi Sad. The symbolic action, regularly organized by students in Mitrovica, drew new strength this time from the presence of students from Belgrade, most of whom study at the Faculty of Philosophy.
In silence, they held banners reading: “It’s not philosophical to stay silent,” “Don’t be afraid, my kin—come and see for yourself,” and “From Banat, out of spite, with our colleagues.” Another placard evoked shared identity and heritage: “It’s the same land that fed us, the same mother, the same air and centuries, the same holy places—only inhumanity divides us.”
“We Cannot Talk About Rule of Law Without Talking About Kosovo”
After the gathering, a student from the Faculty of Philosophy addressed the group’s motivations. Though he chose to remain unnamed, in line with the student protest policies, he emphasized that the University in North Mitrovica is not part of the current student blockades happening throughout Serbia for one key reason—safety.
“Our colleagues’ safety is our top priority,” he said. “We talk about universities under blockade, but we forget that we have another university—one that cannot join for entirely justified reasons.”
He underscored the broader issue: “We cannot talk about the rule of law, about institutions doing their jobs, without talking about institutions in Kosovo and Metohija. They are under threat, and many no longer function. Kosovo is a place where international and human rights have been blatantly violated.”
A Transformative Journey
The Belgrade students had spent the day prior visiting key Serbian Orthodox sites south of the Ibar River, including Visoki Decani, Gracanica Monastery, the Patriarchate of Pec, and the historic town of Prizren. For many, it was their first visit to Kosovo.
“The impressions are incredible,” said one of the students. “We are definitely not returning as the same people. I can say that we finally feel we’ve truly gotten to know our own country.”
“You Are Always Welcome”
Gratitude was mutual. Students from North Mitrovica welcomed their Belgrade counterparts with warmth and hospitality.
“We had a wonderful time these past three days,” one Belgrade student said. “We’ll be coming back soon, in even greater numbers.”
A local student responded: “You are always welcome. We rely on you. When we couldn’t finish what we started, we hoped you would.”
The demonstration also saw the attendance of Marina Ivanović, widow of the late Oliver Ivanović, a prominent Serb politician in Kosovo. She shared words of encouragement and hope.
“They are as beautiful and noble as can be,” she described the students. “It’s our duty to follow their lead. Youth brings change—and change is good. I’m truly happy to see them here. When you see such youthful energy, you can’t help but smile.”
Solidarity, Not Just in Words
Jovan Zafirović, a philosophy student and satirist, highlighted the importance of in-person support.
“Support on social media is appreciated, but this kind of presence means even more,” he said. “It shows we are truly standing together.”
Zafirović added that the relationship goes both ways: “We’ve supported our peers in central Serbia to the best of our abilities, and they’ve reciprocated. That means a lot.”
And this, he says, is just the beginning.
“Nothing ends with this gathering. We expect more visits, more connections. The positive reactions we’ve received will hopefully encourage more people to come and see Kosovo for themselves.”
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