Kosovo Shuts Down Multiple Regional Offices to Combat Serbian Parallel Administration

The closure of ten Serbian regional offices by the Kosovo government ahead of parliamentary elections has intensified tensions, drawing sharp responses from Belgrade. Kosovo authorities conducted police operations against the Serbian parallel administration, leading to the shutdown of over 30 offices. This move, perceived as a tactic to marginalize Kosovo Serbs, has raised concerns about unemployment and the potential deterioration of dialogue. The U.S. Embassy criticized the actions, warning they undermine trust and Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.

Closure of Serbian Regional Offices Sparks Tension in Kosovo

In the lead-up to Kosovo’s parliamentary elections, a significant shift has occurred as ten Serbian regional offices were shut down by the Kosovo government. These offices, which had primarily served a symbolic role, have now become a focal point of tension, prompting strong reactions from Belgrade, which deems this move a dangerous escalation.

Police Operations Targeting Parallel Serbian Administration

In a decisive police operation, Kosovo authorities have targeted the Serbian parallel administration within the country. Over 30 Serbian regional offices, along with other facilities, were raided and subsequently closed. Kosovo Serbs are alleging that this crackdown is a tactic to suppress their community and garner additional support from Albanian nationalists as elections approach.

Kosovo’s governance comprises official authorities alongside a separate administrative structure for Kosovo Serbs, which includes Serbian post offices, tax authorities, and various other facilities. As part of the EU accession discussions, both Kosovo and Serbia had previously committed to dismantling these parallel structures in the long run, with promises of establishing a municipal association for Kosovo Serbs.

Despite these agreements, progress has stalled, leading the Kosovo government to take matters into its own hands. In southern Kosovo, predominantly populated by Kosovo Albanians, police have closed Serbian administrative centers across ten municipalities without court authorization. The municipalities impacted include Lipjan, Obiliq, Fushe Kosova, Vushtrria, Novo Brdo, Kamenica, Viti, Rahovec, and Skenderaj, in addition to the capital, Pristina.

Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla announced that this operation has effectively ended criminal activities linked to these parallel structures. “Today we closed the chapter of illegal criminal Serbian parallel structures. All Serbian administrations, post offices, tax authorities, and parallel institutions have now been shut down throughout Kosovo,” he stated. The government claims that all 28 Serbian administrations and their five districts are now effectively closed, marking a significant step towards increased autonomy from Serbia.

However, this development has been met with disbelief among many Kosovo Serbs. Ivan Milojevic, the director of the Serbian post for Kosovo, expressed his discontent after visiting a closed facility in Gracanica near Pristina. “Prime Minister Albin Kurti wants to stage a theater right before the parliamentary elections. But it is a bad theater. It is repression against the Serbian people,” he remarked to reporters.

Peter Petkovic, head of the Serbian government’s office for Kosovo, also voiced his concerns. While in Brussels negotiating over Kosovo, he was taken aback by the sudden police actions. “This indicates that Prime Minister Kurti is not interested in dialogue, but rather in violence against the Serbian community in Kosovo. With this action, Kurti has made 1,100 people unemployed instantly. The state of Serbia will continue to support the salaries of employees from the approximately 35 closed Serbian institutions,” Petkovic stated.

The international community, particularly the United States, has been watching these events closely. The U.S. Embassy in Kosovo recently criticized the Kosovo government’s actions, stating, “Kosovo acted against U.S. advice by closing Serbian institutions, undermining trust, and potentially jeopardizing its efforts to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community.” This growing criticism highlights the delicate balance Kosovo must maintain as it navigates its political landscape and international relations.

Related Articles