Reaction of the Office for KiM after demolition of Serb garages: 'Pristina continues its arbitrariness'

According to the statement, Pristina’s unilateral actions directly endanger the property and existential rights of the Serbian people.

“The demolition of private garages was carried out without informing or obtaining consent from the Serbian municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica and the local leadership, which was legitimately elected by an absolute majority of votes from the Serbian population. Attempts by the authorities in Pristina to bypass, take over, seize, or reduce the powers of this local self-government, where Serbs make up the majority, are unacceptable,” the statement said.

It is added that no excuses claiming the land belongs to a Pristina-based company correspond to the reality on the ground, given that the owners of these garages possess documentation of property rights, and that some of the demolished structures were built more than five decades ago.

“The fact that this action was carried out by surprise, in the early morning hours, with the assistance of a large number of members of the so-called Kosovo Police, indicates the political background of yet another in a series of violent and unlawful activities by Pristina aimed at the survival and disenfranchisement of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija,” the statement notes.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija will inform all international representatives about this case, because, as emphasized, such actions by Pristina represent a dangerous precedent and a violation of even Pristina’s own regulations, which are openly disregarded whenever it is necessary to target the Serbian population.

“We emphasize that the passivity and inadequate reaction of international representatives, who were informed from the very beginning by local leadership about this problem and Pristina’s dangerous intentions, is very concerning,” the statement said.

Garages in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica were demolished this morning, carried out with the assistance of the so-called Kosovo Police.

The demolition of the facilities began early in the morning, with heavy machinery and reinforced security from the so-called Kosovo Police present on site, as well as members of EULEX and Italian Carabinieri.

More than 23 structures were affected. The company Trepča South claims ownership of them, while the owners insist they have all the necessary documentation for the buildings.

The municipality of North Kosovska Mitrovica was not informed about the demolition.