Pavkovic: The police raid is an attempt at forcibly integrating Serbs into the Kosovo system

The raid by the Kosovo Police on Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo is a move characteristic of Albin Kurti and a continuation of his unilateral measures aimed at exerting institutional pressure on Serbs, says Milos Pavkovic, a researcher at the Center for European Policy. He emphasizes that this is an attempt at forcibly integrating Serbs into the Kosovo system and a violent assertion of sovereignty in the north.

"This is just a continuation of a series of unilateral measures aimed at institutional pressure on Serbs, following the failed attempt to open the bridge on the Ibar River. Now, Kurti has found other targets to express his dissatisfaction and frustration, which primarily affects the Serbs in northern Kosovo," Pavkovic said in an interview with Kosovo Online.

He emphasized that yesterday's action was an uncivilized act, particularly considering the police raids on a hospital, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO), and the Center for Social Work—institutions that provide services directly to citizens, whether they are Serbs or Albanians.

He pointed out that this is also a form of forced integration of Serbs into the Kosovo system, a violent completion of Kosovo's statehood, and a violent assertion of Kosovo's sovereignty in the north.

"This is a hostile act towards Serbs and sends a negative message that there is no place for Serbs in Kosovo," Pavkovic stressed.

He noted that the recent action has the potential to further escalate tensions.

"We saw the statement from the Serbian List, which announced some form of radicalization of measures and civil disobedience. This is just one in a series of actions following the abolition of the dinar, the closure of the Postal Savings Bank, and the closure of the Serbian Post Office. Serbs are in a very difficult situation. Belgrade does not have a clear strategy, nor the means to help Serbs in northern Kosovo," Pavkovic explained.

At the same time, Pavkovic observed that the international community is hiding behind brief statements.

"Serbs are forced to self-organize and try to defend themselves, sending a message about the true state of their situation and the rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo," Pavkovic added.

When asked whether concrete actions can be expected from the international community following the condemnations in the statements, Pavkovic noted that it is interesting that the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State made a statement, which elevates the issue to a "higher level." However, he also reminded that a previous reaction from the U.S. Secretary of State criticized Kurti, but it did not lead to any change in the situation on the ground.

"The activities of the international community have so far been limited to issuing statements or press releases criticizing Kurti, which only gives further encouragement to the government in Pristina to continue with such actions, as there have been no concrete measures to stop this behavior and these unilateral actions," Pavkovic said.

Given all this, he noted, it can be expected that Kurti will continue with such actions in the future.

"There is no response from the international community, Serbia's hands are tied, and all Belgrade can do is urge the citizens to exercise restraint, but we don't know for how long. In reality, nothing stands in the way of Kurti and his crackdown on the Serbian community," Pavkovic concluded.