The “MitroRun 2026” race, scheduled for October 18 under the patronage of South Mitrovica Mayor Faton Peci and expected to gather around 800 participants, will partly pass through North Mitrovica. Published route maps show that the 5 km and 10 km races cross the main bridge and that approximately two kilometres of the course run through the northern part of the city. The Municipality of North Mitrovica has objected, saying it was neither consulted nor gave consent for the event to take place on its territory.
The Municipality of South Mitrovica announced that “MitroRun 2026” will be held on October 18, with the race starting at 1 p.m. from Adem Jashari Square.
According to the announcement, around 800 participants, both children and adults, are expected to take part in races over different distances.
The event is being organised in cooperation with the Municipality of South Mitrovica, the cultural organisation “7 Arte” and Korporata Rugove, and will be held under the patronage of South Mitrovica Mayor Faton Peci.
Organisers say the aim is to promote sport, physical activity and greater inclusion of citizens through running.
The published maps of the routes, however, show that the race will not remain entirely within the territory of South Mitrovica.
Both the 5 km and 10 km routes cross the main bridge over the Ibar and continue into North Mitrovica.
Based on the kilometre markers shown on the maps, approximately two kilometres of the course run through the northern part of the city.
The route includes the direction towards the “I Love Mitrovica” sign, as well as part of Sutjeska Street.
North Mitrovica: We were not consulted
The Municipality of North Mitrovica reacted earlier today, saying that it had not been consulted, had not participated in the organisation of the event and had not given any consent for activities to be held on its territory.
According to the municipality, it learned about the planned race only after receiving numerous questions from citizens who had seen information about the event on social media.
It said that, as of today, it had received no official notification regarding the organisation of the event, the race route, the use of public spaces and roads, or the security measures planned for the race.
The municipality particularly objected to the fact that the Municipality of South Mitrovica appears among the organisers while part of the race is planned to take place within the territory of North Mitrovica.
It cited the Law on Local Self-Government and the Law on Municipal Administrative Boundaries, arguing that each municipality has legally defined competences within its own territory.
According to the North Mitrovica authorities, organising activities by another municipality on its territory without consultation or participation of the competent local institutions amounts to bypassing the legally established powers of North Mitrovica.
The municipality also said it could not view the event solely as a sporting manifestation.
“Considering the way in which this activity has been organised, without the institutions of North Mitrovica and without their timely notification, the Municipality cannot view this event exclusively as a sporting manifestation,” it said.
It further described the race as having “the characteristics of a political project of the institutions in Pristina”, claiming that its effect was to diminish in practice the competences of North Mitrovica and relativise its status as a separate unit of local self-government.
The municipality said sport and sporting events should not be used as a means of “politically demonstrating jurisdiction on the territory of another municipality”.
It therefore publicly called on the leadership of the Municipality of South Mitrovica to revise the planned event and remove from the MitroRun route and programme all sections located within the territory of North Mitrovica.
Police informed, Elshani says they “have nothing against it”
Kosovo Police have been informed about the planned race.
Deputy commander of Kosovo Police for the North region, Veton Elshani, confirmed to KoSSev that the police had been “informed” about the event.
Asked whether the race would go ahead, Elshani said the police “have nothing against it”.
The published route maps confirm that the race does extend into North Mitrovica, including sections north of the main Ibar bridge.
The 5 km and 10 km races are both shown crossing into the northern part of the city, while the longer route continues further through North Mitrovica before returning towards the finish area in the south.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
