Citizens on two years since the takeover of municipalities in Northern Kosovo: They are trying to make our lives miserable, but we will endure

Residents of Leposavic and North Mitrovica say that pressure and daily provocations in municipalities in northern Kosovo have increased exactly two years after Albanian mayors, with the support of Kosovo Police, entered municipal buildings. They say life has become harder, more insecure, and filled with fear.

Citizens of Leposavic state that in the two years since the Kosovo Police forces, together with Albanian mayors, entered the buildings of the four northern municipalities, the pressure they experience has been constantly increasing.

“Nothing has changed, the pressure on Serbs is the same, like with those young men in Kosovska Mitrovica. You can see what they’re like—it’s just violence upon violence. I have no words, what can I say. I’m a bit scared for our children, what the future will bring,” said Andrijana Stefanovic.

Jovo Mitric agrees that the situation on the ground has significantly worsened, recalling the behavior of Kosovo Police toward Serbian high school graduates.

“It keeps getting worse and worse, nothing has changed. If they’re trying something, they can, but no one is going to kill me. They go around, honk, provoke—you can’t say a word, just look away. All they do is provoke, nothing else. I don’t want them coming near me, I don’t care about anything anymore. What they did to that kid in Mitrovica—I would’ve grabbed him by the throat,” he said.

On the other hand, citizens of North Mitrovica say they remember this two-year period only by bad events, recalling how their center of daily life has shifted to Raska, making an already difficult life even harder.

“Nothing has changed, everything is worse and worse. I’ll remember this period for the bad things,” said an elderly resident.

Her fellow citizen agreed, emphasizing that Kosovo authorities are trying to make their lives miserable.

“What’s changed is the great burden they’ve placed on us. We have to go to Raska to handle civic matters, which isn’t easy and costs money. They’re trying to make our lives difficult in every possible way, but we will endure it and they won’t succeed in their intentions. We’ll remember only the evil of the Kosovo authorities,” he said.

A young man from North Mitrovica said that daily provocations have become frequent and life has worsened for every resident, regardless of age.

“It’s much harder now, considering we have to go to Raska for paperwork. There are daily provocations, life is harder for young people here, especially because after every night out, we face police harassment—constant stops and checks, which weren’t so frequent before. Since we have to withdraw all our money in Raska, I don’t know who finds that normal or worth it. I think the situation has worsened significantly for both children and the elderly. Life has become much more difficult, and considering the situation we’re in, it’s unlikely to get better—but we hope. We believe in our country,” he concluded.