In response to multiple recent reports of sexual harassment targeting local Serb women, Kosovo Police have deployed new patrol units across key streets in North Mitrovica with the specific aim of preventing such incidents, Deputy Regional Commander for the North, Veton Elshani, confirmed to KoSSev today.
The new deployment follows the adoption of an operational plan designed to improve the police’s ability to deter and respond to harassment cases. Elshani stated that police will now be visibly present in five key streets during the day with ten uniformed officers on patrol in pairs. During nighttime hours, the operation will be reinforced with 14 plainclothes officers monitoring the area.
These daytime patrols consist of two officers, one of whom will wear a body camera, and similar measures will apply to nighttime patrols as well.
“The sole purpose of these patrols is to monitor the situation and prevent any potential cases of sexual harassment,” Elshani said. He expressed confidence that the enhanced presence will not only serve as a deterrent but also help gather necessary evidence when needed.
He called on residents of North Mitrovica to cooperate with police and report any cases of harassment immediately, either directly to patrolling officers or by calling the police hotline at 192.
“Call the police. Don’t take matters into your own hands, because either you’ll become their target, or they’ll become yours,” Elshani warned.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the north. Earlier today, an interethnic incident on the Mitrovica promenade drew sharp criticism over what some described as selective policing and excessive use of force against a Serbian high school student.
Why Did a Police Officer Grab a Graduate by the Neck in North Mitrovica?
Elshani also addressed recent public calls for the creation of a neighborhood watch — a measure proposed by Serbian Democracy leader Aleksandar Arsenijević following several reported harassment cases. Elshani dismissed the need for such a group, saying it could complicate the security situation.
According to him, an Albanian civil society group expressed concern over the neighborhood watch proposal, particularly regarding the risk of unauthorized surveillance and filming.
“Police will verify any suspicious individuals. If someone starts acting like law enforcement — filming, tracking who comes and goes — and they’re not authorized, that’s a problem. If there’s an incident, you can film, but if you’re recording every passing car, you’re either making them a target or becoming one yourself,” he said.
Elshani noted that police have already consulted several civil society organizations in the north, who he said responded positively to the new preventive measures.
Meanwhile, Kosovo’s acting Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, visited the city to address safety concerns and reaffirm institutional commitment to protecting citizens. In a brief interview with KoSSev, she reiterated that any form of sexual violence or harassment is unacceptable. She emphasized that both her ministry and the Kosovo Police take these matters with the utmost seriousness and are committed to ensuring equal rights and rule of law for all citizens.
Details from Haxhiu’s statement will be published in a follow-up article tomorrow.
Sexual Harassment Cases Reported in North Mitrovica Amid Growing Tensions
Another case of sexual harassment was reported last week in North Mitrovica, when a young Serbian woman alleged that a man of Albanian ethnicity made lewd, sexist remarks toward her from a moving vehicle. She immediately reported the incident to the police. While the suspect has been identified, no arrest has yet been made.
This case is one of several recent complaints lodged by Serbian women from the north, mostly involving alleged perpetrators from the southern part of the city. Civil society organizations from North Mitrovica have voiced deep concern over what they describe as inadequate institutional response, with some reports even mentioning alleged involvement of Kosovo Police officers.
In response to the growing number of incidents, the Serbian Democracy political movement announced the creation of civilian “Neighborhood Watches” aimed at monitoring and reporting suspicious behavior to better protect women and children.
However, authorities and commentators in Pristina have pushed back, accusing some organizations and media in the north of using the issue as part of a broader political agenda to delegitimize Kosovo’s institutions, particularly its police force. They allege that Serbia and Russia are fueling these narratives as part of a so-called hybrid war against Kosovo.
Northern NGOs have firmly rejected these accusations, insisting that the reports are legitimate and calling on the international community to take the concerns seriously and ensure protection for all citizens.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
