Several Serbian media outlets have been accused of spreading misleading narratives about the demolition of illegally constructed villas near Ujman (Gazivoda) Lake, portraying the operation as an ethnically motivated action targeting Serbs while omitting the legal basis for the intervention.
According to Kosovo authorities, the operation concerns the removal of unauthorized structures built on land owned by the public water management company Ibër-Lepenc. Property owners had been formally notified and given until July 17 to remove their belongings before demolition began.
Media Coverage Frames Operation as Anti-Serb
Among the outlets criticized were Novosti, RT Balkan, Sputnik Serbia, and Serbia’s public broadcaster RTS, all of which published reports suggesting the operation was directed exclusively against Serbs.
Novosti described the demolitions as authorities using “heavy machinery” to “expel Serbs,” while RTS referred to the operation as the demolition of “holiday homes owned by Serbs” and highlighted the presence of Kosovo Police officers at the scene.
Other Serbian media used similar language, characterizing the operation as an action against Serbian-owned properties without explaining that the demolitions were part of an official enforcement process targeting illegal construction on public land.
Authorities Cite Enforcement of Public Property Regulations
Kosovo officials maintain that the demolitions are based on administrative decisions concerning unauthorized buildings located on parcels owned by Ibër-Lepenc and are not linked to the ethnicity of property owners.
Faruk Mujka, Chief Executive of Ibër-Lepenc, said that 11 property owners had received official notices ordering them to vacate structures built without authorization on company-owned land.
He added that the demolition orders are being enforced by the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, with assistance from the Kosovo Police.
Authorities have also stated that similar inspections and enforcement measures will not be limited to the Ujman area or the municipality of Zubin Potok but will be implemented across all municipalities where Ibër-Lepenc infrastructure and public property are located.
Broader Enforcement Campaign
Kosovo institutions have previously carried out comparable operations to remove illegal construction in protected areas and tourist zones elsewhere in the country, arguing that the measures are part of broader efforts to protect public property and enforce planning regulations.
Officials say this broader context was largely absent from reports published by several Serbian media outlets, which instead focused on the ethnicity of some property owners while omitting the legal grounds for the demolitions and the government’s position that enforcement applies regardless of ethnic affiliation.
The differing narratives have highlighted the ongoing information disputes surrounding developments in northern Kosovo, where competing interpretations of official actions frequently shape public perception across the region.
