Kosovo’s recent actions to shut down Serbia-supported institutions have drawn sharp criticism from both local and international actors, who warn that these uncoordinated measures undermine the stability of the region and Kosovo’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration. The closures, which coincide with Kosovo’s parliamentary election campaign scheduled for February 9, have sparked tensions between Kosovo’s government and its Serb population, as well as drawn rebukes from the international community.
The closures, which included today 10 provisional municipal offices and several branches of the Serbian Post in southern areas from the Ibar River, such as Lipljan, Obilic, Pristina, Kosovo Polje, and Vucitrn, are seen as part of a larger trend that began years ago. Many of these institutions were relocated to Serb-majority areas after losing control of their original premises, operating in exile. Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Xhelal Sveçla, defended the actions, describing them as a necessary step toward ending Serbia’s „parallel municipalities and criminal institutions“ in Kosovo.
The latest wave of closures follows a broader pattern of actions taken by Kosovo authorities over the past several years. Starting in 2022, Kosovo began taking control of municipal properties, including in Strpce, and by mid-2023, efforts to dismantle Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo gained significant momentum. By 2024, the closures expanded to include key services such as banks, treasury offices, urban planning directorates, and public utilities. In December 2024, urban planning and housing directorates in North Mitrovica were shut down, further intensifying the strain between Kosovo and its Serb population.
At least 59 Serbian institutions and services were closed throughout Kosovo during operations conducted by the Kosovo Police.
The economic impact has been compounded by restrictions on Serbian goods entering Kosovo, which lasted over a year despite violating the CEFTA trade agreement. While the ban was partially lifted in October 2024, Kosovo secured full CEFTA membership as a trade-off.
These closures have left tens of thousands of Serbs in northern Kosovo without their physical workplaces and uncertain about their future and whereabouts. For years, these institutions provided not only jobs but also a sense of continuity and security for Kosovo’s Serb community.
International Reactions
The U.S. Embassy in Pristina issued a statement expressing concern over the closures, noting that Kosovo’s uncoordinated actions negatively impact Kosovo’s citizens, including ethnic Serbs and other communities. The Embassy emphasized that these matters should be resolved through the EU-facilitated Dialogue to ensure Kosovo’s integration as a modern, multiethnic, European democracy.
The U.S. further warned that Kosovo’s actions, undertaken against the best advice of its allies, risk eroding trust between Kosovo and its international partners. The statement added that these developments constrain the ability of the U.S. to help Kosovo achieve a prosperous future.
The European Union (EU) also condemned the closures, stating that they contravene Kosovo’s obligations under the EU normalization process. The EU stressed that the issue of Serbia-supported structures must be resolved through the Dialogue, not unilateral actions by Kosovo. EULEX, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, is monitoring the situation, in line with its mandate.
In response to the closures, French and German officials expressed concern over the impact on Kosovo’s Serb population. The French Embassy emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of parallel structures within the framework of the Dialogue, while German Ambassador Jörn Rohde called for an inclusive approach. Rohde pointed out that actions like today’s do not win the hearts and minds of those affected by the closures.
Kosovo’s Justification and Criticism from Serb Leaders
Kosovo’s government has justified the closures by framing them as a necessary step toward dismantling Serbian influence in the region. Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla have repeatedly emphasized the need to remove what they consider criminal networks and illegal structures that operate outside of Kosovo’s legal framework.
The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Pristina stated, however, that it did not authorize the Kosovo Police to conduct checks and raids at locations where Serbian institutions were closed, explaining that they had not received an official request.
In a later response, Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, called the statement from the Basic Prosecutor’s Office “scandalous” and argued that judicial authorities should have closed these institutions much earlier, rather than criticizing the police.
Kosovo’s Ambassador to Brussels, Agron Bajrami, responded to the EU’s criticism by clarifying: „There are no Serbia-supported structures in Kosovo; these were Serbia-run illegal structures. There is no agreement stipulating negotiations over the future of these structures. Today’s Kosovo Police operation did not cause any tensions.“
However, Kosovo’s Serb leaders have vehemently criticized the actions.
„Doing this without offering alternatives for Serbs south of the Ibar, without creating new jobs, without opening cities to people who have been almost isolated in enclaves for decades, is akin to economic ethnic cleansing. And this is very clear to everyone,“ said moderate Kosovo politician Rada Trajković.
The Serbian List, a political party representing Kosovo’s Serbs, condemned the closures as an example of “terror” by Kosovo’s government, with party officials accusing Prime Minister Kurti and the ruling Vetëvendosje party of waging an assault on Kosovo’s Serb population. „It is the hardest to be a Serb in Kosovo today, but we will not abandon our electoral campaign,“ stated Serbian List representatives. They called on Serbs to unite in the upcoming elections to fight back against the actions of Kurti’s government.
Aleksandar Arsenijević, leader of the Serbian Democratic Party, added that Kosovo’s actions amounted to “violating all human rights” and warned that the closures would only worsen the situation. Arsenijević argued that if more Serbs had mobilized in the past, such closures would not have been possible. He and other Serb leaders also criticized the international community, especially the EU, for failing to take stronger action against Kosovo’s government.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić reiterated that Serbian workers affected by the closures would continue to receive their salaries. Vučić labeled the closures as part of Kurti’s „terror“ against the Serb community, while also noting that they reflected Kurti’s nervousness ahead of upcoming global changes, particularly the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Vučić also expressed concern over the role of EULEX in these developments, alleging that the mission had acted passively on the ground.
Diplomatic Strain
The closure of Serbian institutions comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions. Serbia’s refusal to participate in the planned first meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons in Brussels, scheduled for January 15, was a direct response to the recent wave of closures. Serbia condemned the move as politically motivated, accusing Kosovo of attempting to politicize the technical process of addressing the issue of missing persons. Kosovo’s delegation, in turn, condemned Serbia’s decision, labeling it an obstruction to the peace process.
With Kosovo’s parliamentary elections set for February 9, 2025, the ruling Vetëvendosje party expects to solidify its mandate, announcing that it is set to secure up to half a million votes.
The Systematic Closure of Serbian Institutions in Kosovo: A Year in Review
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