Two illegal public enterprises operating within the Serbian system in North Mitrovica—the Directorate for Residential and Business Premises and the Directorate for Construction Land—were shut down on December 26 by Kosovo authorities.
Local Authorities Seek Police Assistance
Deputy Police Chief for the northern region, Veton Elshani, confirmed to Radio Free Europe that local authorities requested assistance to “liberate certain offices.” The enterprises were housed in a residential building, but ownership of the premises remains unclear.
Elshani stated that investigations revealed these offices were occupied by “illegal and parallel structures.” A case has been opened for “document falsification,” and the premises will remain under police supervision until the case is resolved.
The Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo condemned the move, describing it as an “usurpation” of Serbian institutions in the north, calling the action “in violation of agreements.”
“The approximately 70 employees of these institutions were identified and ordered to vacate the premises as they were told they had no legal grounds to be there,” the office said in a statement.
The Serbian List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo, stated that the Kosovar authorities’ actions will not endanger the employees’ jobs, assuring that they will continue receiving salaries.
Broader Context of Closures
The shutdown of Serbian institutions operating within Kosovo’s territory has been ongoing since early this year. Several other entities, including temporary municipal bodies, Serbia’s Post Office in northern Kosovo, the Postal Savings Bank, and the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute in North Mitrovica, have been closed.
Kosovo has also banned the use of the Serbian dinar, complicating salary payments for Serbian community members employed by Serbia.
Sovereignty vs. International Criticism
The Kosovo Government justifies these actions as efforts to extend its sovereignty. However, the international community has criticized such measures, urging solutions through the Brussels dialogue to avoid escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, Serbia continues to resist shutting down its institutions in Kosovo, relocating many of them to areas near the border.
