Under orders from local authorities, Kosovo Police have taken control of a building previously used by the Serbian National Employment Service, which operates under Serbia’s system and not recognized by the Republic of Kosovo.
This move is part of a series of actions taken in recent days by Kosovo authorities—backed by police—to reclaim control over facilities in the north used by institutions operating within Serbia’s administrative system. These include the public utility company “Ibër Waterworks,” a city museum, a sports hall, and other facilities.
The Government in Pristina considers these so-called “parallel structures” illegal.
Since early 2024, dozens of such Serbian institutions have been shut down, including provisional municipal bodies, post offices, banks, and social welfare centers.
The Serb List—the leading political party representing Kosovo Serbs and backed by Belgrade—condemned the move, calling the takeover of the National Employment Service premises a “direct assault on a fundamental human right.”
Their statement accused Kosovo of attempting to “eradicate the presence of the Serbian state” in order to “intimidate, marginalize, and expel the Serbian population.”
Petar Petković, head of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo, claimed that tens of thousands rely on the Employment Service and accused Kosovo authorities of persecuting the Serb population and provoking conflict.
Meanwhile, on the same day, sports club members protested the closure of the sports hall in North Mitrovica, demanding access so they could continue their activities. The protest included young athletes and their parents, as well as representatives of the Serb List, who said the youth are being denied their right to sport and participation.
However, the Municipality of North Mitrovica stated that the sports hall is operational, and anyone interested must contact the responsible staff to book time slots.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has expressed concern over the recent actions by Kosovo authorities, saying they negatively affect service delivery to non-majority communities.
“The closure of these institutions—without sustainable alternatives, without involving the local community, and without an institutional transition—seriously jeopardizes access to basic services for non-majority communities,” read the OSCE statement.
Likewise, the French Ambassador to Kosovo, Olivier Guerot, reiterated on May 15 his concern over Kosovo’s repeated actions against Serbian-led structures that provide services to the Serb community.
“These issues must be resolved through EU-mediated dialogue. These actions send a negative signal to Kosovo’s partners. France is closely monitoring their impact on the daily lives of Kosovo Serbs,” Guerot wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Other Western countries have also previously expressed concern about the shutdown of Serbian institutions in Kosovo without offering alternative solutions for service provision.
