Institutions in northern Kosovo still blocked, workers trying to reach their workplaces

Employees of Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo tried again this morning to reach their workplaces, which have been blocked by Kosovo Police since Friday. The workers gathered in front of the institutions where they are employed, stating that they would not leave.

After the closure of Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo on Friday, employees of the Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica attempted on Monday, the first working day after the closure, to reach their workplaces, but were stopped at the entrance.

Today, they are once again gathered in front of the building of the Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica, disappointed to find the doors still closed.

Vesna Savic, an employee at the Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica, says that after 35 years of work, she is now unable to reach her workplace. She emphasized that this institution had provided services to all citizens.

"Today, I came to work with my colleagues to earn a living. I support my child with this salary. I found the doors closed. I am sad and disappointed. As everyone knows, all citizens of Mitrovica, we were here in service of the people, a public service. Not just for Serbs. Albanians from Pristina came, they came from Lipljan, from Gnjilane. They would certify documents and arrange their pensions, they obtained Serbian ID cards. We were always here for everyone, no matter where they came from. Muslims and Roma came as well. When we couldn’t help, we directed people where to go to get things done, we helped, and everyone left satisfied. Unfortunately, after 35 years of work, I find the doors closed. Children are being denied basic rights to obtain benefits and financial assistance, people are being denied social aid. What more can I say…" Savic stated.

Another worker from the Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica, Sasa Petrovic, emphasizes that the municipal administration has existed since 1945 and that it continued operating even during wartime.

"During all the wartime events, it never stopped working. After the war, it also continued to operate. These doors were open every day for all our citizens, regardless of their national or religious affiliation. Therefore, this prevention of our work and the usurpation of our premises hurts us even more," Petrovic said.

He adds that he and his colleagues are seeking answers from the international community about the reason for the closure.

"We also appeal to the international community and all relevant factors to provide us with some answers as to why we cannot work, even though we have functioned without obstruction all this time and provided services to our citizens. The international community exists based on fundamental principles such as the right to work, the right to movement, and the provision of services to our citizens. That is what we did. We were a service to our citizens," Petrovic stated.

Employees of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund also gathered in front of the building today, protesting because they are being prevented from doing their jobs.

Vucina Jankovic, the head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District, emphasizes that the closure of institutions in northern Kosovo endangers more than 30,000 people.

"This morning, as well as yesterday, we headed to our workplaces, but we were met by a cordon of heavily armed Kosovo police. They prevented us from reaching our workplaces, performing our duties, and providing services to all citizens. I want to point out that this action endangers more than 30,000 people, and no one is thinking about whether these people will have salaries, pensions, and social benefits in the coming period, or whether they will be able to feed themselves and their families," Jankovic said.

He adds that the Pension Fund is not a parallel institution and called on the international community to respond.

"It has been said a thousand times, and I want to emphasize again that we are not a parallel institution but an institution that provides services to all citizens, regardless of racial, religious, or national affiliation. The international community almost constantly talks to us about the rule of law, human rights, and minority rights. Ladies and gentlemen, you now have the opportunity to act. There is a flagrant violation of human rights here in Kosovo and Metohija, and I call on you to come forward with concrete measures and enable us to return to our workplaces. We are protesting peacefully here, we are not threatening anyone. You can see that we are expressing our dissatisfaction in a very peaceful and civilized manner," Jankovic concluded.