The issue of land expropriation in the north of Kosovo included in the State Department report

The US Department of State released the 2022 Report on Human Rights in Kosovo in which it was reported on the matter of expropriations in northern Kosovo.

The report states that the Serbs are extremely worried about the decision of the Government of Kosovo to confiscate their land.

“Kosovo Serbs in Zubin Potok and Leposavic expressed concerns that the government was expropriating land for police stations and related police infrastructure (fiber optic cables, roads, etc.) without following due process and legal procedures,” the report states. Citizens in both localities filed complaints with their municipalities. Zubin Potok municipality contracted a lawyer who filed a legal complaint in October on behalf of its residents. 

As further stated, citizens in both localities had filed complaints with their municipalities. Zubin Potok municipality had contracted a lawyer who had filed a legal complaint in October on behalf of its residents.

A preliminary legal assessment by an international organization found that the widening of the road and establishment of four new Kosovo Police facilities in the two municipalities was not conducted in compliance with the law on expropriation. Civil society organizations reported the unusual nature of the expropriation decisions, which were only issued after work had begun,” the State Department report states.