Preparations are underway at the Sports Hall in North Mitrovica ahead of a rally by Srpska Lista scheduled for Wednesday, marking the start of the election campaign for Kosovo’s snap parliamentary elections on December 17.
On the eve of the event, Albanian-language media outlets reported claims that Kosovo Police allegedly prevented several individuals from replacing seating inside the hall with chairs painted in the colors of the Serbian tricolor.
Nakon uklanjanja ćiriličnog znaka, Opština prefarbala i stolice u Sportskoj hali
The reports refer to seats that were originally painted red, blue and white until October 2, when the now former municipal administration of North Mitrovica—led by then-mayor Erden Atić of the Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje)—repainted them white and in shades of green.
Pristina-based outlet Kallxo reported that Kosovo Police had intervened to stop the alleged replacement of the seating. In the description of a video shared by the outlet, it was claimed that police officers prevented several individuals from changing seats “that identify the city of Mitrovica” with chairs in the colors of the Serbian flag.
Similar claims were echoed by other portals, including the Facebook-based outlet Jepi Ze.
Kosovo Police: “No Issues Identified”
KoSSev contacted the Kosovo Police for the North Region for clarification. Police confirmed that the rally scheduled for Wednesday had been properly registered and said they had received information that “works were being carried out” inside the Sports Hall.
According to police, officers immediately went to the location to assess the situation and determined that there were no issues requiring further action.
“Everything has been resolved. There are no problems that need to be highlighted,” police told KoSSev.
However, when asked whether police had indeed prevented the installation of seats in the colors of the Serbian tricolor and what ultimately happened to those chairs, no response was provided.
Photographs circulating in the media show only white seats, while green chairs appear to have been moved aside. Meanwhile, Kosovo Police supplied a video which they say reflects the current condition of the Sports Hall.
Preparations Underway
The KoSSev team was present at the site on Tuesday evening and confirmed that preparations were ongoing. Workers were seen bringing in sound equipment and other technical gear ahead of the rally.
Journalists were not allowed to enter the facility. According to Kosovo Police officers on site, this was done on the order of the Mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojević, who instructed that media representatives not be permitted inside the Sports Hall.
Workers were also observed placing black garbage bags over the glass windows of the building. Despite limited visibility, the interior of the hall could be seen decorated with red and blue balloons.
First Event Since May
Srpska Lista is set to officially open its election campaign with a ceremonial convention in North Mitrovica at noon on Wednesday, in line with party tradition.
This will be the first public event held in the city’s Sports Hall since May, when the facility was closed and taken over by the former Albanian-led local administration.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
