Mitrovic: Kurti's regime is conducting institutional terror against the Serbs through expropriation in the north

Lawyer Srdjan Mitrovic from North Mitrovica believes that, despite the rejection of all recommendations by the EU, OSCE, and the US Embassy in Pristina regarding the expropriation of land in Leposavic and Zubin Potok by the Kosovo Government, the international community will eventually succeed in forcing Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti to abandon this idea.

Mitrovic, speaking to Kosovo Online, emphasizes that the people in the north have shown a united stance and great determination when it comes to the expropriation carried out by Pristina.

"Everyone has condemned the expropriation. Public opinion in Kosovo, the Serbian people, and the international community have all condemned it. But we can still see that Kurti's regime persists. The Kosovo Government is not respecting the international community, which surely cannot contribute to reconciliation among the people or peaceful coexistence in this area. Under the guise of the rule of law, Kurti's regime is, in fact, conducting institutional terror, always enforcing something that goes against or harms the Serbian people," he said.

Mitrovic points out that the owners of the expropriated land still have the right to fight through legal remedies that will be conducted by the legal team in collaboration with the Municipality of Leposavic, which also has the right to oppose the decisions of the Government of Kosovo, as expropriation involves a public interest.

"The public interest must prevail over the private one. The public interest defines what the benefit is, the way to achieve that benefit, and the goal that is achieved by the action of expropriation. It is clear here that the goal is to create some bases, be they military or police. Secondly, the way this is achieved is under the guise of the Law on Expropriation and the alleged interest of Kosovo in preventing smuggling and crime. All of this could have been prevented by expanding existing police stations. Clearly, this is not enough for them. They say it will be for the needs of the border police, so why is the expropriation of land carried out in villages that are 30 kilometers away from the administrative line? Citizens must be patient, and democratic resistance also helps them express their dissatisfaction. There are still unused legal remedies that will surely be used in this case," Mitrovic concluded.

He believes that the international community will eventually succeed in changing Pristina's opinion, but it will take time.

"Borrell and others will convince the Kosovo Government to do what is best for the preservation of peace, but it must be done slowly. Probably under some pressure, such as the statement by French President Macron, who said there would be a reconsideration of visa liberalization. Such things will definitely influence Kurti to change his policy somewhat," our interviewee believes.