Srpska Lista reacted on Friday to the Kosovo government declaring „Civil Protection“ and „Northern Brigade“ as terrorist organizations. The party emphasized that these are virtual organizations, one of which exists only in Albin Kurti’s head, and the other one was integrated into the Kosovo system. Srpska Lista also stated that former members of the Civil Protection who have been integrated into Kosovo institutions still receive wages.
„The decision of the regime of Albin Kurti to declare the non-existent organizations Civil Protection and the Northern Brigade as terrorist is part of the plan of the Kurti regime to create an imaginary, virtual enemy to justify the continuation of the political terror it carries out with its special forces in the north of Kosovo and Metohija through unfounded arrests of innocent Serbs, harassment and intimidation of citizens,“ the party said in a statement.
If it were not dangerous, they claim, the move of the Kosovo PM and ministers would be ridiculous.
„Nevertheless, the plans resulting from this decision indicate that instead of de-escalation at the call of the entire international community and the entire Serbian people, Kurti is planning further escalation, repression and consolidation of the para-police, occupation authority in the north of Kosovo and Metohija.“
Pointing out that the Northern Brigade is a „virtual organization that exists in Kurti’s head“, they specified that Civil Protection was „integrated years ago, with its former employees, into Kosovo institutions, from which those workers still receive wages“.
They, however, made no mention of the earlier claims that the Serbs left Kosovo’s institutions in early November, but they did note that the Kosovo authorities installed drones and other surveillance equipment in the north.
„Also, we remind everyone that yesterday’s decision by the Kurti regime comes after a show that was obviously prepared by the Kurti regime, when a phantom vehicle was found containing some weapons, which could fit in a truck rather than a passenger vehicle, but also after some kind of incendiary device was thrown near the North Mitrovica municipal building. In both cases, the sites are located within the parameter controlled by Kurti’s special forces for weeks, covered by their cameras and drones and other surveillance equipment.“
„Kurti established a unique system that is nothing more than a witch hunt in the 21st century, whereby non-existent organizations, which have never been publicly seen, nor claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack, are declared terrorist organizations. We remind that there is a peaceful democratic civil protest in progress and that there has not been a single attack in the north that any serious and normal person could deem to be terrorist.“
The party said that they are surprised by nothing after Kurti’s regime’s use of the term „fascist militia“ to describe the Serbs in the north.
Srpska Lista also sent a message to the international security forces:
„Having the above in mind, in order to prevent Kurti’s regime from staging some new provocations and accusing the Serbs or some new virtual organization, and thus giving itself an alibi for the persecution and intimidation of the Serbs, we demand from KFOR and EULEX to deploy their forces as soon as possible to all important points in the north of Kosovo and Metohija and prevent Kurti from realizing his devilish plan to endanger the peace in these areas by preventive action.“
The Kosovo government declared the “Civil Protection“ and the “Northern Brigade“ as “terrorist organizations“ two days ago.
The Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, alleged that these organizations represent a “serious and direct threat to the security and constitutional order of Kosovo“.
“Based on the assessments of the security institutions in the Republic of Kosovo, the illegal formations ‘Civil Protection’ and its faction ‘Northern Brigade’ represent a serious and direct threat to the security and constitutional order of Kosovo,“ Kurti stated.
Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said that it immediately prohibits the activities of the aforementioned groups. He confirmed that they are working on identifying their members. He also said that the decision does not apply to members of organizations that were previously given “amnesty“.
Svecla announced yesterday that this decision was made in coordination with international partners.
“We are continuously coordinating with all our allies, sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree. Without a doubt, we coordinated when it comes to this step,“ he stated, adding that over time he will share the details of this process with strategic partners.
However, the US, UK, and Germany have today practically denied these allegations, as reported by Kosovo media.
The decision of the Kosovo government to declare organizations „Civil Protection“ and „Northern Brigade“ as terrorist was not made in coordination with the United States and other international partners, the State Department said in a statement for the Voice of America.
„It should have been coordinated with the closest international partners, including those whose primary responsibility is to ensure the stability of Kosovo. We once again call on Kosovo to refrain from making unilateral moves at a time when we are working with all parties to resolve the current crisis,“ the State Department wrote in response to the inquiry of the Albanian branch of the Voice of America.
In the meantime, both Germany and Great Britain confirmed for Pristina media that neither the Kosovo government nor Prime Minister Kurti consulted or coordinated with these countries regarding yesterday’s decision.
And while the spokesperson of the UK embassy only briefly confirmed that they were not consulted, the German embassy stated that they were not even informed about the intention of the Kosovo government, noting that due to the current crisis in the north, close coordination with international partners would be beneficial.
„It is important for any such decision to respect the relevant laws and the principle of proportionality. We repeat the call to the Government of Kosovo to refrain from any unilateral action that could further aggravate the situation in the northern municipalities,“ the German Embassy in Pristina said.
Last week, Svecla announced a proposal for the Kosovo government to declare “Civil Protection“ and “Northern Brigade“ as terrorist organizations. He said this on Saturday at the special forces base of the Kosovo Police, a day after these units carried out an action in Zvean, in which a vehicle containing a large amount of weapons, ammunition and other equipment was found.
Numerous Pristina officials claimed that the weapons and equipment in question were planned to be used in a terrorist attack that was allegedly prevented by the Kosovo security institutions.
On the other hand, official Belgrade accused Pristina of planting weapons and ammunition to accuse the Serbs and continue with the arrests.
Back in March, however, the Kosovo government adopted the Draft Strategy for the Prevention and Fight against Terrorism for the next five years (2023 – 2028). This document mentions „terrorism with national motives“ as the main threat to the security of Kosovo. It was also emphasized that the Kosovo government has identified groups, organizations and movements that „promote separatism“, which are mainly directed towards the north of Kosovo with the Serbian majority population.
„Civil Protection“ in the north of Kosovo was abolished, and its members were integrated into several Kosovo ministries as per the agreement made between Belgrade and Pristina on Civil Protection in March 2015.
The Northern Brigade caught the public attention last summer when graffiti appeared on the streets of North Mitrovica with inscriptions – „We are here, don’t worry – Northern Brigade“, after which accounts on social networks with the same name were created.
The Serbian president also spoke about the „Northern Brigade“ immediately after the graffiti appeared, stating that he was „worried about the Serbs’ desire to resist Albanian violence“.
Although the graffiti said „Northern Brigade“ (Severna Brigada), Vucic said that it was „Brigade North“ (Brigada Sever), because „Northern Brigade“ is a Red Star fan group, while correcting the journalist at the press conference.
With the exception of the graffiti and comments on social networks, those who presented themselves under this name have never come forward publicly, nor has there been any confirmed information available to the public about whether there is an organization under this name and what it does.
Kosovo government declared „Civil Protection“ and „Northern Brigade“ as terrorist organizations
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