Groups of Serb citizens in the north of Kosovo continue protesting in front of municipal buildings in Zvečan, Leposavić and Zubin Potok to stop the newly elected Albanian mayors from entering offices. They were seen this Monday morning, chanting national songs in front of the buildings, claiming “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia”.
Officers of the Kosovo Police and KFOR were seen patrolling municipal buildings, while there are reports of teargas being used in the municipality of Zvečan. Kosovo Police said that “protesters tried passing through safety cords to force their entry in the municipal building, while using violence and teargas. Police had to use legal means such as sprays to disperse them and put the situation under control.”
Igor Simić of the Serb List, the largest Serbian party in Kosovo, was also seen in these protests and he warned they would not leave until the Albanian mayors have retreated.
Leader Goran Rakić previously said they have forwarded two requests to KFOR representatives and foreign ambassadors in Pristina, that all “illegal mayors and special units retreat from the municipal buildings”.
Journalists on field report that empty bottles were thrown in Rakić’s direction, as the latter asked protesters in Zvečan to make way for two vehicles of the special unite of the Kosovo Police to pass through. Enraged protesters did not budge, shouting “treason” to Rakić.
Meanwhile, alarm sirens were heard in Zubin Potok, where Serb citizens continue to protest.
Two of the mayors, namely Izmir Zeqiri, elected mayor in Zubin Potok and Ilir Peci, elected mayor in Zvečan were seen in a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier, at the European Union Office in the capital city.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Ambassador Hovenier said he had discussed the current situation in the north of Kosovo.
“We discussed how they [the mayors] can fulfill their duties, in serving all citizens, in a responsible manner. Such thing, according to us, does not meet forced entry in municipal buildings. It is important to avoid situations where public officials force their entry in public buildings through means of force,” said Hovenier, adding that the position is supported by other countries of the QUINT besides the United States; United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany.
The meeting was also attended by the EU Ambassador to Kosovo Tomáš Szunyog. Meanwhile, Hovenier also met with Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani to discuss on the situation in the north.
Previously, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić declared that the situation in the north of Kosovo is “the most difficult so far”.
“I am afraid of instability, even of major conflicts, because I know that the Serbs cannot endure anymore, while he [Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti] dreams of being [Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr] Zelensky,” Vučić told local media in Serbia.
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić declared that it is KFOR’s duty “to impede unilateral actions from Pristina”.
“They cannot be mayors in Serb municipalities, because Serbs did not elect them,” said Dačić to local Serbian media, referring to the Albanian mayors elected in the April 23rd special local elections held in the four northern municipalities, largely boycotted by Serbs.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s Armed Forces remain at the highest level of combat readiness until further notice, due to the situation in the north.
On May 26th, groups of local Serbs in the north protested against the newly elected Albanian mayors of Leposavić, Zvečan and Zubin Potok, while clashing with the Kosovo Police. The latter assisted the new mayors in entering municipal buildings after being sworn in to assume their duties.
The international community condemned the decision and considered it “forced entry”, calling on the Government of Kosovo “to refrain from further taking unilateral and destabilizing actions.”
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that he understands concerns coming from international partners, however, “every other option would be non-fulfillment of constitutional obligations.”
