Radojevic gave a statement to the police over the sign incident: Pressure on municipal leadership continues

North Mitrovica Mayor Milan Radojevic gave a statement at the police station today regarding the June 5 incident in which he painted over the heart on the "I Love Mitrovica" sign during an attempt by the municipal inspectorate to remove it. After questioning, Radojevic told Kosovo Online that proceedings had been initiated against him for vandalism, adding that it was obvious that police pressure on the municipal leadership was continuing.

Radojevic explained that, following the prosecutor's decision, the case would proceed through the regular legal process.

"It is obvious that police pressure on the leadership of the Municipality of North Mitrovica and on decisions made in the interest of its citizens is continuing. Today I gave a statement as a suspect regarding the circumstances surrounding the removal of the sign. The Municipal Assembly adopted a decision to remove the sign because it is unlawful, unconstitutional, and does not reflect the official name of the Municipality of North Mitrovica. Mitrovica does not exist - only North Mitrovica exists," Radojevic said.

He added that he had asked the authorities to clarify which provision of the law had allegedly been violated on June 5.

"Today I repeated the question of which provision of the law we violated that day and which law prevents us from implementing decisions that are in the interest of the citizens of this municipality. Once again, we received no answer. What is certain, however, is that the Municipality of North Mitrovica will continue to act in the interest of its citizens, and all adopted decisions will be implemented. Sooner or later, those decisions will be carried out," Radojevic stressed.

He said that it was municipal officials, not the police, who were defending the law that day.

"The paradox is that the municipal leadership acted entirely in accordance with the law that day. I repeat, the decision was adopted, certified, and signed, and if there is anything unlawful about it, there are competent judicial bodies that should challenge it, not phone calls and direct communication with police officers on the ground deciding what may or may not be implemented. A month after the incident, we still have no answer from the Kosovo Police as to which legal provision they relied on when they prevented the implementation of a lawfully adopted decision of the Municipality of North Mitrovica," Radojevic concluded.

In early June, Radojevic was detained together with Municipal Assembly President Ivan Zaporozac during an attempt to remove the "I Love Mitrovica" sign, following a decision adopted by the local assembly.

Kosovo Police officers did not allow the sign to be removed, and in protest, Radojevic spray-painted the green heart on the sign red, after which he and Zaporozac were detained.

After being released from police custody, they both stated that they had been implementing lawful decisions and that the police officers had treated them with excessive force.

In the meantime, Kosovo's Ministry of Local Government Administration challenged the decision of the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly to remove the "I Love Mitrovica" sign, claiming that it was contrary to the applicable legal regulations.