Kosovo authorities announced on Thursday that they have removed a billboard in Zvecan featuring photographs of various personalities, including the presidents of Serbia and Russia, citing that symbols of individuals with aggressive stances towards Kosovo will not be allowed.
The news was shared by Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla.
In addition to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the billboard also displayed photos of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, Serbian surgeon Zoran Krivokapić, diplomat Yugoslav Kostić, former Director of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government Marko Đurić, and the head of the Republic of Srpska Committee for Aid to Serbs in Kosovo, Milorad Arlović.
All of them have been previously declared honorary citizens by Zvecan, one of the four majority-Serb municipalities in north Kosovo.
Many of them have publicly expressed opposition to Kosovo’s statehood.
“The only symbol of Serbia within our state will be its embassy in Pristina,” wrote Sveçla on Facebook, sharing a video showing workers contracted by the Kosovo Government removing the billboard.
“From today, no symbols of dictators or countries that are aggressive towards Kosovo and its existence will be allowed in any corner,” Sveçla added.
“The Republic of Kosovo is clearly defined by its democratic values and Euro-Atlantic orientation, while its institutions remain committed to the rule of law and the implementation of constitutionality in every part of our country”.
The billboard was placed near the village of Banjska, where in September of the previous year, an armed group attacked the Kosovo Police, killing officer Afrim Bunjaku.
In exchange, three Serbian attackers were also killed.
Serbian tennis player Djokovic had honored the slain Serb attackers in Banjska through several social media posts.
The responsibility for the attack was claimed by Milan Radojičić, the former vice chairman of the Serb List – the main party of Serbs in Kosovo enjoying the support of Serbia.
Kosovo accuses Serbia of being behind the attack, a claim officially denied by Belgrade.
Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s statehood and maintains ties with Russia.
Serbia is the only country in the Western Balkans that has not imposed sanctions on Russia following the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022.
The European Union has repeatedly called on Belgrade to act in line with the bloc’s foreign policy, including imposing sanctions on Russia, as this is seen as necessary for Serbia’s path towards European integration.
