Nemanjina Street in Bosniak Mahala in North Mitrovica was named after the murdered Serbian politician Oliver Ivanovic on Wednesday. Srpska Lista’s municipal assembly members made this decision during yesterday’s MA session after what was perceived as avoidance and obstruction on several occasions to the initiative that was previously launched by two of Oliver Ivanovic’s party deputies, which was followed by a civic petition. They, however, dismissed the initiative to name Sutjeska Street after Ivanovic – where he was assassinated.
Srpska Lista municipal assembly members and the student representative of the University in North Mitrovica, Nemanja Bisevac, officially suggested Nemanjina street which was seen by Srpska Lista as the righteous place due to „the municipal building-still-under-construction, and the Telekom and Administrative District“ that are located in Nemanjina Street.
Thirteen assembly members of Srpska Lista voted for this proposal. Two GI SDP members voted against, while one of the two Albanian deputies abstained from the vote and the other opposed the proposal.
Ivanovic’s colleagues requested again to name the Ivanovic’s place of death – Sutjeska Street after him. They have repeatedly made this request for several months already, which was followed by the submission of a citizens’ petition in earlier months – at the time rejected by the MA.
„In connection with this proposal, I would just like to remind you that I have already proposed to rename Sutjeska Street to Oliver Ivanovic Street four times, and that proposal is much older than Mr. Bisevac’s proposal. There is no doubt that there is a proposal because it was made four sessions ago. I expect this assembly to vote on this proposal first,“ GI SDP assembly member Marko Jaksic said. He also claimed that no written proposal had arrived in relation to the Srpska Lista request.
Even this proposal was also dismissed by the majority of 14 votes. Srpska Lista claimed the petition did not specify the name of the street.
If it is necessary, I will repeat this for the fifth time – I propose to rename Sutjeska Street to Oliver Ivanovic Street“ (Marko Jaksic)
Oliver Ivanovic did not die in Nemanjina Street but in Sutjeska Street
„Let me remind you, being a citizen, a politician and a father who had lived in Kosovska Mitrovica, Oliver Ivanovic did not die in Nemanjina Street, but he was assassinated in Sutjeska Street“ – GI SDP Oliver Ivanovic assembly member Ksenija Bozovic said.
„On behalf of the GI SDP, on behalf of the Ivanovic family, on behalf of the citizens who supported the GI’s petition to rename Sutjeska Street as Oliver Ivanovic Street, we thank you but we do not accept that, while you have shown your virtuous deed,“ she added.
Both the deputies left the session soon after due to their disapproval of Srpska Lista’s proposal to name Nemanjina Street after Oliver Ivanovic.
Miroslav Ivanovic: They are treating him as if he was executed in the same manner as to how they respected him while he was alive
“ They are treating him after he was executed in the same manner as how they respected him while he was alive,“ commented Oliver Ivanovic’s brother Miroslav Ivanovic, a judge with Kosovo court.
Through a Facebook, he wrote:
„The name remained, but to their chagrin, it is a very strong name and they are still bothered by it. The initiative of so many citizens was dismissed– to rename Sutjeska Street after Oliver – it is the street where he was killed, where, surprisingly, a memorial plaque remains even today. Shortly afterward, a new, now acceptable, initiative arrived. It is, however, Nemanjina Street in Bosniak Mahala to be named after him. You, yourself can guess of the proposer’s good intentions. The decision was made and will surely bring honor to someone. But not to Oliver’s family.“
But immediately upon ending the session, Ivanovic’s partner, Milena Popovic, who has recently started working with the Serbian Prime Minister Office, said: „A street in Kosovska Mitrovica bears Oliver Ivanovic’s name. Heroes live!“
Oliver Ivanovic was shot six times in the back on January 16th in early in the morning on his way to work, in front of his party premises in North Mitrovica. Almost two months later, the investigation was transferred to the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo due to the complexity of the case. Still, to this date, those who gave the order and those who carried it out have not been discovered. There are no suspects, or a court procedure.
He was a North Mitrovica municipal Assembly member after running in the Kosovo local election in October 2017. For over six months before the murder, Oliver Ivanović was demonized politically and publicly through the Serbian media, believed to be controlled by the main Kosovo Serb political party, Srpska Lista, upon his decision to run in the elections. The political and media campaigning against Oliver Ivanovic, was noticeably backed by some officials from Belgrade. His car and that of his coalition partner DragisaMilovic, were torched shortly before the start of the official campaign.
Ivanović’s associates and some Kosovo Serb politicians claimed repeatedly in public that Oliver Ivanović had informed the authorities and institutions in charge in Belgrade, Pristina, as well as international administrations and Embassies that his safety was in jeopardy.
A river of people stood in rows on both sides of the road, standing in silence and mourning, and escorted the casket to Belgrade. Oliver Ivanović’s assassination sparked a chain of reactions and condemnations in Belgrade, Pristina, the region and the world.
Oliver Ivanovic was buried in the Alley of Citizens of Merits in Belgrade, while there were no commemoration sessions held in North Mitrovica or any other northern municipalities.
Oliver Ivanović was the most prominent Kosovo Serb leader since 1999. He played a key role in 1999 and the first half of 2000’s in, as the Serbian public sees it, the defense of the city from violent attempts from Albanian extremists from the south. He was known to be courageous, but a moderate and pragmatic politician. He advocated for dialogue, cooperation and democratic values.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
