Starovic: Demolition in Bosniak Mahala an example of selective application of the rule of law

Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic reacted to today's demolition of structures in Bosniak Mahala in North Mitrovica, saying that the Kosovo Police was carrying out Albin Kurti's campaign of pressure and intimidation. He described the case as a prime example of the selective application of the rule of law and characterized Serbs in Kosovo as the most disenfranchised ethnic group in contemporary Europe.

"Imagine people starting to demolish houses without permits. Municipal building inspectors arrive and order the work to stop because you simply cannot do that without a permit. Then the police show up... and detain the inspectors? That is exactly what happened today in North Mitrovica, Kosovo," he said.

Starovic added that Serbs were the most disenfranchised ethnic group in Europe.

"North Mitrovica is a Serb-majority city under the control of a heavily armed, monoethnic Albanian police force that is carrying out Albin Kurti's campaign of pressure and intimidation. This is a prime example of the selective application of the rule of law. Serbs in Kosovo remain the most disenfranchised ethnic group in contemporary Europe, deprived of basic human, political, and economic rights," Starovic stressed.

The Municipality of North Mitrovica said today that the municipal inspection department had halted the demolition of several structures in Bosniak Mahala, stating that the contractor did not have a valid demolition permit. According to the Municipality, the Kosovo Police obstructed municipal officials in the performance of their duties and took them to the police station.

The Municipality also stressed that the entire process of handling the case, from the change in land use through to the issuance of permits for the demolition of existing structures and the construction of new ones, had been the responsibility of the previous municipal administration.