Radojevic: Demolition of garages carried out unlawfully and without the Municipality’s knowledge; lawsuits to be filed against “Trepca Jug” and the police

The Mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic, stated that the demolition of 23 garages near the Detention Center was carried out in violation of legal procedures and without the Municipality’s knowledge, announcing the initiation of legal proceedings against the company Trepca Jug, and likely also against the Kosovo Police for abuse of authority. He expressed the view that this morning’s demolition marks the beginning of a campaign for new parliamentary elections.

At a press conference, Radojevic described the situation as “absurd,” emphasizing that the competences of local self-government had been violated.

“We have reached an absurd situation in which we invoke the law and seek to uphold it, while those who once labeled us as terrorists and destroyers of the constitutional order are now doing exactly that,” Radojevic stressed.

He added that the municipal authorities are in daily contact with citizens.

“We are in constant communication with citizens—not only today, but over the past weeks and months—and we have been working together to find a solution to this issue. Citizens placed their trust in us in large numbers during the elections to bring change and to act in their interest. We are determined to fulfill that mandate,” he said.

Radojevic pointed out that the legal representatives of the Municipality of North Mitrovica have determined that legal procedures were violated, which is why the Municipality will file a lawsuit against Trepca Jug, and most likely also against the Kosovo Police for abuse of authority.

“The Kosovo Police have positioned themselves as an executive authority, as if they were competent to interpret what is lawful and what is not. We are faced with an absurd situation in which the Kosovo Police provide assistance for the demolition of structures without any legal basis—without any document from the Municipality, which is competent for such matters, and without a final court decision, which is also required,” Radojevic stated.

He emphasized that “there have been enough silent observers and appeals,” and that the time has come for concrete actions.

“We informed representatives of the international community about this issue in recent days and weeks, since it began back in February and March. We were in communication with them. Yesterday, we again informed them and requested that they take a position and prevent the taking of the law into one’s own hands. Today everyone is calling—phones have been ringing since this morning. They should have rung yesterday,” Radojevic said.

He underlined that, under the law, municipalities manage public property and that its use must be approved by the Municipality.

“Trepca does not own this property; it is merely a user. It is well known how such matters were handled in past decades and how this land changed hands. The key issue is that the Municipality of North Mitrovica is being completely bypassed and its competences nullified. The decision to demolish the garages was not made by the Municipality, nor did it receive any request from ‘Trepca Jug.’ There were no meetings and no consultations,” he said.

Radojevic described it as “scandalous and disappointing” that the Kosovo Police assisted in the demolition.

“There are only two cases in which so-called illegal structures can be demolished—either with the Municipality’s authorization or by a court decision. There is no municipal decision, and it is questionable whether there is a court ruling. As the leadership of North Mitrovica, we are not aware of any such ruling, nor do we believe one exists,” he reiterated.

He questioned both Trepca Jug and the Kosovo Police as to how they could assist in an action lacking any legal basis.

“What would it look like if everyone were to build or demolish structures on a piece of land they consider their own, as they see fit?” he asked.

Politically speaking, Radojevic said he is convinced that this morning’s action has already marked the start of a parliamentary election campaign.

He also noted that the statement issued by “Trepca Jug” failed to cite any legal act authorizing the demolition.

“They proudly speak about leveling something to the ground, without once referring to a legal act that would have enabled and authorized such action,” he said.

The Director of the Infrastructure Directorate in the Municipality of North Mitrovica, Ruzica Bozovic, clarified that all the demolished garages were temporary structures that had held valid construction permits for years.

“It is well known how temporary structures are removed—when the time comes and when the land is repurposed—and that is done by the Municipality. These garages are part of historical heritage; they have existed since the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, with permits dating back to the 1990s. They have never posed a problem and are used by residents living nearby,” Bozovic said.

She questioned the legal basis for the demolitions.

“Had there been a plan to repurpose the land, we would have initiated a lawful procedure for their removal. But that was not the case. The law is clear—regulations governing construction, planning, and public space management are the same everywhere,” Bozovic concluded.