Antanasijevic: During the pogrom, I didn't flee, but this situation might force me to

Miljan Antanasijevic from North Mitrovica, who has been living on social assistance from Serbia since he fell from scaffolding and sustained injuries, says to Kosovo Online that his life and the life of his child depend on a modest income that he cannot withdraw due to the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo.

"I have been a single parent since 2015, and on November 27, 2020, I had an injury, I fell from scaffolding, and then I developed epilepsy. I depend on that social assistance, and I can't withdraw it anywhere. I tried to withdraw it, but they only gave me 10,000, what am I supposed to do with that? Just for medication, I spend seven, eight thousand," he says.

Our interlocutor emphasizes that he currently only receives social assistance.

"Tell me, can you survive with 10,000 dinars for a month?" he asks.

Antanasijevic says that life in North Mitrovica has been very difficult lately.

"In this situation, if it continues like this, it's better to pack up and leave, to be honest. When I didn't run away in 2004, now the situation will force me to take my child and leave, not because of me, I have half of my life left, but I won't jeopardize my child's life who is currently in school," Antanasijevic adds.

Our interlocutor assesses that the decision of the CBK is very poor and that he is not the only one considering leaving, seeing the regulation as a message to drive the Serbs away from Kosovo as soon as possible.

"I'm not the only one, 80 percent of the citizens are thinking of leaving here, and if they leave, what will happen to Mitrovica and the whole of Kosovo, that's the big question. I can say that the most affected are sick people, social cases, pensioners, but also everyone else," he states.

He says that apart from this decision, the ban on Serbian goods and medicines in Kosovo further influences thoughts of leaving.

"The medicine I have to take, without which I cannot function, I have to go to Raska to pick it up and buy it, and in my condition, going to Raska every 15 days is impossible. Here, the medicine cannot be found precisely because they don't allow it to be imported here," he points out.

In addition to his poor health situation, Antanasijevic mentions that it's not easy for his mother either, who suffers from diabetes and had her leg amputated.

"How can she go to Raska and withdraw money? It's very difficult for her, and I have four more surgeries ahead of me. Surgery on the cheekbone, eye, arm, and reopening of my skull. Every time I go to Belgrade for these check-ups and surgeries, I can't go without 100 euros. I depend on this social assistance because that's how I cover my surgeries and check-ups. But what now?" Antanasijevic asks.