Radojevic on the prevention of the restoration of a mural dedicated to Patriarch Pavle: In North Mitrovica, the law of force and the police boot prevails

The Mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic, stated that the Kosovo Police today prevented the restoration of a mural dedicated to Patriarch Pavle, adding that the same rules do not apply to the residents of this municipality as they do elsewhere.

In a post on Instagram, Radojevic said that despite having obtained a permit from the Municipality of North Mitrovica, the police stopped the painting of the mural and detained artist Stefan Stojanovic, a former student of the University of Mitrovica.

“Today, the mural dedicated to our Patriarch Pavle was supposed to be restored. However, despite a valid and lawfully issued permit from the Municipality of North Mitrovica, the police prevented its painting, detained artist Stefan Stojanovic, a former student of our university, took him to the police station, issued him a misdemeanor citation, and verbally threatened him that he had to leave Kosovo within one hour,” Radojevic stated.

He added that police officers told him that a permit from the ministry was required for the mural, but, according to him, failed to explain under which law such a requirement existed.

Radojevic also claimed that police officers had spoken inappropriately about Patriarch Pavle, alleging that they said: “We will see whether we will grant permission for this priest.”

According to him, the artist and municipal directors were told at the police station that the permit issued by the Municipality of North Mitrovica was not valid.

“It is now more than clear that the laws that apply to some other municipalities do not apply to our municipality. Instead, what prevails here is the law of force and the police boot,” Radojevic wrote.

He called on the international community to ensure that the residents of North Mitrovica are able to exercise their freedom of expression and make decisions in accordance with the applicable laws.

“Everything passes, but one’s soul, honor, and what is good remain,” Radojevic concluded.