Kosovo police have shut down all branches of the Social Work Center, an institution operating within the Serbian system in Northern Kosovo, following an investigation into allegations of voter manipulation by the center’s employees in Zubin Potok.
On February 8, just one day before elections in Kosovo, four Social Work Center employees from Zubin Potok were arrested in connection with the criminal offense of „interfering with voter freedom.“
According to the police, the suspects allegedly used phone calls to intimidate and direct citizens on how to vote, an act described as an infringement on electoral rights.
Kosovo authorities categorize the Social Work Center as part of a „parallel structure,“ a term frequently used to describe institutions linked to the Serbian government. As part of the investigation, police sought and obtained search warrants to collect evidence.
The closures of the centers took place this morning, following the execution of searches at the various locations. The operations were carried out simultaneously in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic.
The closure procedure mirrored previous actions against Serbian institutions in the region, with inventory and documentation being removed, new locks installed, and employees leaving their posts.
Three individuals from North Mitrovica were taken in for questioning as witnesses. The operation involved not only Kosovo police officers but also members of the EULEX mission, who were present inside the buildings just before the closures took place.
Veton Elshani, Deputy Commander for the Northern Region, confirmed that the operations had been completed and that the centers had been officially closed.
The case is currently being treated as a matter of „document forgery.“
The closures have sparked strong condemnation from the Serbian List and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, which criticized the actions of the Kosovo authorities.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
