Students and young people are waiting for payments outside the Postal Savings Bank in North Mitrovica

The beginning of the last week of February in North Mitrovica was marked by long queues in front of the branches of the Postal Savings Bank, and among the citizens this time were also students of the University of Pristina with a temporary seat in Kosovska Mitrovica, as they were supposed to collect scholarships today, as well as young people employed through the "My First Salary" program, who were trying to collect their payments.

Today, the gathered citizens, mostly young people who have chosen North Mitrovica for their education or employment, shared their dissatisfaction and disappointment with a reporter from Kosovo Online.

Strahinja Jeftic says that he and his colleagues employed through the "My First Salary" program came today to withdraw their money.

"However, by the decision of the CBK, we were prevented from accessing our funds. This decision did not spare our older colleagues with years of work experience or fellow citizens of Kosovska Mitrovica. We truly want to stay in this area, but under these conditions and circumstances, I'm not sure how realistic it is to have a normal life. The only thing left for us is to fight for a better future through legitimate means, and I hope we will succeed," Jeftic says.

Ivana Minic says that she is still unable to withdraw her earned salary provided by Serbia through this program.

"It's questionable whether we'll even get to the front of this long queue. Other colleagues are unable to travel to central Serbia to withdraw the money, and it would be nice if this were regulated," she says.

Student Ranko Milovanovic emphasizes that today students came to withdraw money and express their dissatisfaction with the circumstances they found themselves in. He recalls that student expenses are high, they pay for accommodation, tuition, meals, and books.

"By this decision of the CBK, we are deprived of normal studying in the 21st century. Many students are users of student cards through which they receive loans and scholarships issued by the Ministry of Education of Serbia, and with this decision, we are unable to use them to withdraw money. Numerous students who come here from central Serbia have their parents sending them money, and due to this ban, they are unable to withdraw money to pay their dues. On behalf of all students at our university, I appeal and call on the international community, individuals, organizations, and authorities to do something," he states.

Marko Randjelovic, a student from central Serbia studying in North Mitrovica, emphasized that he had received money this morning that he could not withdraw, and therefore, he could not pay his tuition fee installment or enroll for the semester.

"I don't know how long this can go on, after all these decisions that have been implemented. Our conditions have been disrupted, and we had pretty good conditions. As you can see, there is a large number of students here; the situation is very difficult. I hope that other European student organizations will not remain silent and will react, and support us," Randjelovic says.

As of February 1st, the implementation of a regulation by the Central Bank of Kosovo banning the use of the dinar began in Kosovo. This regulation first affected the most vulnerable layers of society - pensioners, disabled individuals, and fellow citizens receiving social, child, and other incomes from Serbia.