A commemorative activity organized in northern Mitrovica by Faton Peci has sparked political reactions, highlighting ongoing sensitivities in the divided city.
Peci, together with young participants from the Association of Missing Persons “Voice of Parents,” held a memorial event honoring 104 missing Albanian civilians. The initiative included symbolic elements such as 104 empty chairs, white roses, and a commemorative march to sites associated with wartime atrocities.
In a public statement, Peci said the activity aimed to preserve memory and prevent the suffering of victims from being forgotten, emphasizing the importance of truth and remembrance.
However, the event drew criticism from Milan Radojević, mayor of North Mitrovica, who described the activity as a “serious lack of respect” toward municipal authorities and an “interference” in local competencies.
Radojević argued that such actions do not contribute to interethnic reconciliation, but instead risk deepening divisions. He also raised concerns about the treatment of displaced Serbs and the condition of Orthodox cemeteries in the southern part of the city, calling for answers from relevant institutions.
Additionally, he questioned the international community’s response, urging a clear reaction to what he described as challenges to institutional order and the rule of law.
The incident reflects the continuing political and ethnic complexities in Mitrovica, where issues related to the legacy of the 1998–1999 conflict and missing persons remain highly sensitive.
