Offices of UNMIK in Zubin Potok and Leposavic broken into

The UNMIK offices in municipal buildings in Leposavic and Zubin Potok have been broken into, and office furniture, a refrigerator, and other items were stolen from the premises, according to Kosovo Online, citing diplomatic sources in Pristina. The only people present in the municipal building in Zubin Potok since May are members of the Kosovo Police.

Until the protests in May following local elections in northern Kosovo, UNMIK used offices in the municipal assembly buildings in Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic.

According to diplomatic sources in Kosovo, UNMIK officials, with the assistance of KFOR, came to inspect the offices on Monday and found the following situation.

"In Leposavic, current municipal officials entered their office, and the UNMIK sign was removed. In Zubin Potok, the UNMIK office was vandalized, office furniture, a refrigerator, and other items were stolen, and the only ones present in the municipal building in Zubin Potok since May are members of the Kosovo Police", a member of the diplomatic community in Kosovo told us.

UNMIK confirmed the break-in of its offices to Kosovo Online.

"The UNMIK's access to offices located in municipal buildings in Zubin Potok, Zvecan, and Leposavic has been restricted since incidents in May 2023. UNMIK has visited its offices on several occasions to recover some of its property and assess the premises with the support of KFOR and in coordination with the Kosovo authorities. UNMIK expressed concern to the Kosovo authorities about unauthorized entry into its premises and reminded that the premises and property of the United Nations are inviolable, and access to these premises must be protected and guaranteed at all times", UNMIK said in a written response.

In accordance with the Conventions on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the Convention adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on February 13, 1946, in New York, the premises of the United Nations are inviolable.

The property and assets of the United Nations, wherever they are located and whoever holds them, should be protected from search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation, and any other form of interference, whether through executive, administrative, judicial, or legislative action.