The new leadership in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo, led by the Serbian List, is increasingly implementing political retaliation against employees who do not align with the “desired” political framework. Instead of functioning institutions and the rule of law, workers report facing revenge, dismissals, contract terminations, pressure, humiliation, and systematic mistreatment.
Those targeted include employees who refused to resign three years ago, as well as those hired during previous municipal mandates under Albanian leadership. According to staff testimonies, professional performance is disregarded, with emphasis placed on national affiliation and political background.
The portal Veritasinfo confirmed these reports across all four northern municipalities, speaking directly with employees. For their protection, the identities of the sources remain confidential.
Key testimonies include:
- North Mitrovica: An employee said they were labeled a “problem” for not resigning when Serbian List members abandoned institutions. They face daily intimidation, and the lack of fluency in Serbian is now cited as a reason for exclusion—despite this never being an issue for the past decade.
- Zvečan: Employees face administrative blackmail. One worker reported being told she was a “legacy mistake” due to being employed under previous Albanian leadership, with threats of contract termination.
- Zubin Potok: Employees are exposed to open threats, humiliation, and forced tasks outside their job descriptions. Some have been moved to poorly equipped basement offices, and fear speaking out.
- Leposaviq: Employees are subjected to isolation and psychological pressure. Some have not received salaries due to withheld administrative data, highlighting systematic mismanagement and neglect.
Alarmingly, targeting is not limited to a specific community: “If you are not part of their structure, you are treated as an enemy. Nationality does not matter for revenge,” said a source from North Mitrovica.
Employees warn that the same pattern of political purging is being applied across all four municipalities, under the pretext of “restoring order,” with non-transparent procedures, lack of written decisions, and no right to appeal.
“This is not governance; this is political cleansing. People are punished for not being ‘loyal’ at crucial moments. It has nothing to do with laws or citizens’ interests,” said a municipal employee from Zubin Potok.
As local authorities remain silent, fear and frustration are growing among workers. Instead of stability, northern Kosovo faces an environment where loyalty, rather than competence or the law, determines survival.
