PIO fund and RFZO users: We don’t know what to do, they don’t let us live or breathe

Users of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO) of Serbia and the Republic Health Insurance Fund (RFZO) were today unable to enter the building on Kolasinska Street in North Mitrovica after municipal inspectors of North Mitrovica, assisted by the police, entered the premises housing the branches of these two institutions. They say they now do not know whom to turn to or what to do – they feel they are not being allowed “to live or breathe.”

Immediately after the inspectors entered the premises, the Serbian flag was removed from the building. Inspectors ordered the employees to take their personal belongings, which were checked beforehand, leave their workplaces, and exit the building.

Users of these institutions, including Serbs, Albanians, and members of other nationalities, were not permitted to enter the offices and exercise their rights.

Among them was Ilinka Mladenovic, who wanted to submit a request for a family pension.

Now unable to do so, she says she no longer knows whom to turn to.

“I brought the documents and everything required. Where are we supposed to live – I no longer know what to do. I really don’t know how we will continue. My child is unemployed but has no right to a family pension, and I, as a single parent, cannot exercise my right to this pension. I don’t know what to do or whom to turn to anymore. There’s no post office, nothing left, they are taking everything away from us, it’s beyond comprehension. I have lived here all my life, built everything I have here, and now I don’t know what to do,” she told Kosovo Online.

A similar situation was experienced by Gordana Janjic, who wanted to submit a request for allowance for her mother’s need of personal care and assistance, but was told the Fund was closed.

“They told me it was closed. I asked, ‘What are we supposed to do?’ and I said, ‘It seems you’re the only ones allowed to live, and we are meant to die.’ She replied, ‘No, no, why should you die, we will work.’ I asked how we are to exercise our rights and where we should go now, to which she said, ‘It will be, it will be, we’ll see something,’ and then closed the door on me. Unheard of – I’m furious, I can’t take it anymore, they’ve truly gone too far. They don’t let us live, don’t let us breathe. We Serbs – they don’t recognize us at all,” Janjic said.

While the inspection was underway inside the building, members of the British KFOR appeared outside and asked employees for information about the action. After a brief check, they left the scene without engaging with the inspectors.

After the search, the premises were locked, and the inspectors put up tape preventing access. Once the inspectors left Kolasinska Street, EULEX members appeared and photographed the closed offices.