The Serb List, the main party of Serbs in Kosovo, has called on the Government of Serbia to declare the special units of the Kosovo Police, intelligence structures, and all “collaborators of these structures” as “terrorist organizations because they threaten peace in these areas”, referring to northern Kosovo.
In the letter sent to the Serbian Government, which was shared with the media, it is stated that the Serbian people “are suffering from the terror and repression of the anti-Serb regime of [Kosovo’s Prime Minister] Albin Kurti for two years”.
“We deeply believe that this decision, in cooperation with international institutions and Western partners, would prevent further illegal activities of these formations and their collaborators in threatening peace in these areas. Additionally, this decision would create a legal basis for the actions of all state authorities against these organizations, to bring them to justice,” the Serb List’s letter to the Government in Belgrade states.
This request from the Serb List comes days after the Government of Kosovo declared the “Civil Protection” and the “North Brigade” – two organizations believed to operate in northern Kosovo – as terrorist organizations. These organizations include hundreds of members from the Serbian community.
According to the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, these two organizations have carried out acts “with elements of terrorism”, such as armed attacks against members of the Kosovo Police, members of the European Union Rule of Law Mission – EULEX, and NATO troops in Kosovo, KFOR.
Kurti has stated that these formations have also called for resistance and disobedience, have forced citizens to participate in protests and barricades, and have “recruited and trained members for the use of weapons and military methods in military bases in Serbia, with the aim of carrying out attacks against local institutions and international missions in Kosovo”.
The Kosovo Police has increased its presence in the northern, predominantly Serbian-inhabited, part of the country, as tensions in the area have escalated.
Tensions have been on the rise since the end of May when newly elected Albanian mayors of Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić entered municipal buildings with the assistance of the Kosovo Police.
Since then, Serbs in these municipalities have protested, demanding the withdrawal of the mayors and special police units.
Prime Minister Kurti has stated that the police presence in the north will be reduced parallel to the conclusion of the protests and that those responsible for the violence will face justice.
Several incidents have been registered in the north, including attacks against KFOR members, EULEX personnel, and journalists, as well as grenade and improvised explosive device attacks.
On 3 July, Kurti declared that authorities had identified 45 individuals who, according to him, had participated in the attacks in northern Kosovo.
So far, the Kosovo Police has arrested several individuals for attacks against journalists and for the violent events of 29 May in Zvečan. On that day, Serbian protesters clashed with NATO troops in Kosovo, KFOR, leaving dozens of people injured on both sides.
Kurti stated that “not even half” of the suspects involved in the attacks in the north have been arrested, “which is why we have this situation”.
The international community is calling on Kosovo and Serbia to immediately reduce tensions and hold new elections in the north.
