Kosovo Shuts Down Illegal Serbian Institutions, Sparks International Backlash and Tensions

April 23, 2025
Kosovo Shuts Down Illegal Serbian Institutions, Sparks International Backlash and Tensions
  • On April 23, 2025, Kosovo police executed a coordinated operation to close several Serbian institutions operating illegally in Leposaviq and Štrpce.

  • The action was confirmed by Artane Rizvanolli, the acting Minister of Economy, who stated that no Serbian parallel institution has a legitimate place in Kosovo.

  • This closure followed a request from the Public Enterprises Supervision Unit, leading to the termination of the Public Communal Enterprise in Štrpce.

  • The Serbian government condemned these actions as illegal and called for intervention from the international community, particularly the EU.

  • The Serbian List, the largest political party representing Serbs in Kosovo, criticized the closures as a brutal intrusion and a violation of previous agreements, including the Brussels Agreement.

  • The closures have sparked backlash from the Serbian community and warnings from international observers that such unilateral actions could escalate tensions.

  • Despite international condemnation, Serbian citizens in Kosovo continue to face significant disruptions in their daily lives due to the lack of necessary institutions.

  • The European Union has indicated that the status of Serbian-supported structures should be resolved through ongoing dialogue, urging that these institutions should not be closed.

  • This operation is part of a broader campaign by the Kosovo police to dismantle Serbian institutions that have operated under the influence of Belgrade since 1999.

  • Petar Petković, Director of the Office of the Government of Serbia for Kosovo, highlighted that thousands depend on these institutions for essential services.

  • The Kosovo government has largely ignored EU objections regarding these closures, continuing its efforts to eliminate parallel institutions.

  • Previous similar actions by Pristina have included the closure of various Serbian-run institutions in northern Kosovo, indicating a pattern of increasing pressure on the Serbian population.

Summary based on 11 sources


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