Actions by Kosovo authorities in the predominantly Serb-populated north continue to draw reactions from Serbian officials.
The Director of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government, Petar Petkovic, criticized the laying of the foundation stone for a police substation in the village of Izvor, in the Municipality of Zvecan and labeled it an "illegal and violent occupation" of the north. According to him, the only things Albin Kurti is constructing in northern Kosovo are police bases and occupying centers. He added, "Due to this militarization and fortification of northern Kosovo and Metohija, no one should be surprised that Serbs are leaving the north. Under the police occupation being imposed, there is no life for Serbs in northern Kosovo and Metohija."
Petkovic has claimed, without providing evidence, that the construction of a new police substation in Zvecan is aimed at occupying the north. This claim was shared by several Serbian media outlets, such as: Nin.rs, Rts.rs etc. This is not the first time Petkovic has made unsubstantiated claims.
The reactions came after Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, announced on November 25, 2024, the laying of the foundation stone for a new police substation in the village of Izvor, Zvecan. "In the new facility, which we expect to be completed very soon, will serve the border police," Kurti stated, sharing photos from the ceremony.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, and the General Director of the Kosovo Police, Gazmend Hoxha.
"The infrastructure of the Kosovo Police continues to improve, and security levels across the Republic are steadily rising," Sveçla remarked.
The Prime Minister’s Office provided additional details about the project’s cost and purpose. The allocated budget for constructing the police substation is approximately €700,000. It was stated that the facility will provide suitable working conditions for police officers and the Border Police, whose mandate includes ensuring border security and preventing cross-border illegal activities. The statement also highlighted other ongoing construction projects in the north related to security institutions. "Last Friday, we laid the foundation stone for a police substation at the Bistrica River Bridge, and intensive work is underway on building facilities for the Police and Civil Registration Agency (CRA) in Lesak, where we laid the foundation stone a month ago. All these investments aim to ensure dignified working conditions for our police officers serving in this area and to strengthen our capacity to provide security for our country," read the statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”
