Veton Elshani, Deputy Commander of the Kosovo Police (KP) for the North region, has sparked controversy with recent remarks labeling remaining Serbian institutions in Northern Kosovo, including schools and hospitals, as illegal and a threat to police operations. Elshani’s comments have heightened local anxieties regarding the future of these educational and healthcare facilities and have drawn sharp criticism for perceived overreach into sensitive political issues, raising concerns about potential misuse of police authority. For KoSSev, he provided clarification of his earlier statement.
In an interview with RTV21, Elshani described the Serbian institutions—referred to as „parallel structures“ operating in Northern Kosovo—as a significant challenge to the KP’s efforts to maintain security. “These parallel structures, including those in health and education, pose a threat to the northern region of the country,” he said. “We cannot remain calm while they carry out their activities.”
„Parallel and illegal structures impact the security situation in the North. They threaten the northern region because we cannot remain calm while they carry out their activities. As long as these parallel structures are present, we will have problems. I refer to the parallel structures as the healthcare and education services, which will remain a problem for us until they are under our management,“ Elshani said yesterday in an interview with RTV21.
Elshani’s comments come on the heels of Kosovo Police shutting down nine Serbian postal facilities in Northern Kosovo, followed by ongoing efforts to reopen the Main Bridge over the Ibar River to traffic.
Political and Public Backlash
Elshani’s statements were met with immediate backlash from local leaders and citizens. Aleksandar Arsenijević, leader of the Serbian Democracy party, condemned Elshani’s remarks, calling them a dangerous overstep. “I am unpleasantly surprised by this statement. Schools and hospitals are ‘red lines’ that should not be crossed,” Arsenijević wrote on Facebook. He stressed that according to Kosovo’s laws, educational and healthcare institutions have their autonomy and should not be subject to police control.
The local NGO „CASA“ has also responded, stating that the police commander’s remarks reflect a political stance. They assert that his statement not only represents a „flagrant overreach of this police officer’s authority,“ but also indicates that such actions are already being discussed within government circles. They believe these hints are „extremely dangerous“ and should not be ignored.
Additionally, several citizens have contacted our editorial office in recent days seeking further clarification on the same statement.
Clarification from Elshani
In response to the backlash, Elshani clarified his position in a follow-up interview with KoSSev. He confirmed the accuracy of his initial remarks but emphasized that his use of the term “management” should be understood as “access.” He stressed that his comments were intended to address security challenges rather than to propose any specific actions against the institutions.
Elshani underscored that his role as a police officer requires him to identify and address security challenges, but he asserted that any potential measures affecting these institutions would require political approval. “I am aware that healthcare and education fall under the Brussels Agreement and are envisaged to be independent,” he noted.
Ongoing Issues and Security Challenges
Elshani acknowledged the difficulties faced by the police in interacting with these institutions. While he confirmed that there is some level of cooperation with health institutions, including responses to traffic accidents and injuries, he admitted that access remains challenging.
In relation to educational institutions, Elshani pointed out issues such as the refusal of schools operating under the Serbian education system to allow their facilities to be used for voting during recent elections. He described the situation as putting school directors under significant pressure, impacting their willingness to cooperate.
Looking Ahead
Elshani concluded by reaffirming his commitment to collaboration rather than control of the health and education sectors. “We do not intend to take over these institutions. Our goal is to establish good cooperation to address the challenges we face,” he said. He reiterated that any resolution of these issues would ultimately be a matter for political discussion and not for the police to dictate.
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