Milenkovic: Painting over murals an arrogant move by Pristina, deepens Serbs’ distrust in institutions

Marko Milenkovic of the NGO New Social Initiative from North Mitrovica told Kosovo Online that painting over murals dedicated to young people who passed away prematurely in Leposavic and Socanica has deeply affected the local community and represents an act that further undermines the trust of the Serbian community in institutions.

“At the House of Culture building in Leposavic, murals that had stood as a reminder of young lives lost were painted over. These murals had been created on the initiative of their friends and families in memory of them. I am also aware of the same problem in Socanica, and the message was very unpleasant for the local population, for the Serbian community in Leposavic,” Milenkovic said.

He stressed that he does not believe this act came from the local population, but rather from the central level in Pristina.

“I am certain this was not done by local people in Leposavic, but most likely came from the central level. I simply cannot imagine it otherwise. I think that Self-Determination is doing what it has been doing in recent months—using the north of Kosovo as a platform to mobilize its electorate, and in the absence of other activities, employing the north for constant actions supposedly aimed at fighting Serbian influence here, while in reality only increasing pressure on the local population,” Milenkovic assessed.

He also recalled the statements of Kosovo institutions claiming that graffiti inciting hatred was being removed, but underlined that there was no distinction made.

“Yesterday we also heard statements from Kosovo institutions saying that provocative graffiti, those inciting intolerance and hatred, were being removed. Perhaps there were such graffiti, but there was no selection. The murals I mentioned expressed the views of the community, but also reflected the fears of the Serbian community. The situation in Leposavic was an example of empathy, understanding, and the depiction of solidarity within the Serbian community. In that spirit, I cannot say that the action was carried out as announced,” Milenkovic stressed.

He added that this reflects an arrogant approach.

“There was no selection. Rather, this was an arrogant approach that did not take into account the views of the community, nor the fears of the Serbian community. The situation and atmosphere created here in the north over the past several years have become increasingly unfavorable for the Serbian community, but I think Kosovo institutions are not currently concerned about that,” he said.

Finally, Milenkovic concluded that such actions only deepen distrust.

“In general, the message being sent is a harmful one for the community. It concerns distrust, lack of understanding, and the overall exclusion of the Serbian community in the north from political and institutional life,” Milenkovic told Kosovo Online.