Gudzic: Repainting murals in the North a case of double standards in Kosovo

Historian Aleksandar Gudzic believes that the repainting of murals dedicated to Patriarch Pavle and Metropolitan Amfilohije Radovic in North Mitrovica perhaps represents the clearest example of double standards in Kosovo, where, as he says, Serbs have been living for decades.

Following last week’s repainting of numerous murals in North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok — including one depicting Metropolitan Amfilohije and Patriarch Pavle — a new mural appeared in Decani dedicated to members of the KLA.

Gudzic explained that for the past 25 years, Kosovo’s political elites have been “building their identity and statehood on the heroic struggle of the KLA for Kosovo’s independence and statehood.”

“And that is legitimate. On the other hand, they whitewash the murals of Amfilohije Radovic and Patriarch Pavle. That may be the best example of the double standards in Kosovo in which Serbs have lived for the past 26 years,” Gudzic told Kosovo Online.

He emphasized that neither Amfilohije Radovic nor Patriarch Pavle ever, through their words or actions, offended the national feelings of Albanians or did anything to harm them.

“Amfilohije Radovic was someone who, in 1999 and in the 2000s, bore witness to the suffering of Serbs, especially in the post-war months. He is important as a symbol. And in that context, one should view why officials of Kosovo’s institutions decided to whitewash the mural of Amfilohije Radovic and Patriarch Pavle — because they are witnesses to the wrongdoings and crimes committed against Serbs in Kosovo. I assume that is why they are objectionable to Kosovo officials,” Gudzic concluded.