Two years since the violent takeover of municipal buildings in Northern Kosovo

Albanian mayors of Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic—elected in the April 23, 2023 elections that were boycotted by Serbs—entered municipal offices on this day two years ago, accompanied by police, in a violent manner. Citizens had gathered in front of the municipal buildings in an attempt to prevent the takeover. The consequences of this event are still felt today in daily life in the north.

In the morning hours of May 26, 2023, Kosovo Police surrounded the municipal buildings of Zubin Potok, Zvecan, and Leposavic, after which air raid sirens went off. Serbs from these towns began gathering around the municipal buildings.

Shortly after 1 p.m., police threw tear gas in front of the municipal building in Zvecan to disperse the gathered Serbs. Soon after, stun grenades were heard, and Kosovo Police entered the municipal building. Tear gas was also thrown into the courtyard of the Church of St. George and in front of the local health center. Ten citizens injured by stun grenades and tear gas were admitted to the Clinical Hospital Center in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Following the police’s entry into the Zvecan municipal building, armored vehicles patrolled the streets. KFOR troops were also present but remained on the sidelines and did not intervene.

As the first incidents unfolded in Zvecan, citizens of Leposavic began setting up barricades on the road leading to the municipal building.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic issued an order shortly before 2 p.m. for the Army to raise its combat readiness to the highest level and for an urgent movement toward the administrative line with Kosovo.

Kosovo Police entered the Zubin Potok municipal building around 4 p.m., where citizens had also gathered to prevent their entry. Tear gas and stun grenades were again used in Leposavic before the police entered that building as well.

The newly elected mayor of Zvecan, Iljir Peci, entered the municipal building around 5 p.m. accompanied by police, while armored police vehicles blocked access to the Leposavic municipal building, enabling the entry of the new mayor, Lulzim Hetemi. That day, the mayor of Zubin Potok, Izmir Zeqiri, also entered the municipal building.

Kosovo flags were placed on the municipal buildings in Leposavic and Zubin Potok.

In the evening, the European Union condemned the clashes between Kosovo Police and demonstrators in northern Kosovo, sparked by the newly elected mayors’ attempts to enter the municipal buildings.

"Everyone must take steps to de-escalate the tense situation and immediately restore calm. The EU will not accept further unilateral or provocative actions. Preserving peace and security on the ground must be a priority," the EU stated, stressing that the extraordinary elections in the north do not offer a long-term political solution for the municipalities involved.

Then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to immediately halt the violent actions in the north and to focus on the EU-facilitated dialogue.

Blinken stated that the United States condemns the unilateral actions carried out by the Government of Kosovo to forcibly enter municipal buildings in the north.

"These actions run counter to the advice of the U.S. and EU. They have unnecessarily escalated tensions, undermined our efforts to help normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo, and will have consequences for the U.S.'s bilateral relations with Kosovo. We call on Prime Minister Albin Kurti to take a different course and on all sides to refrain from further actions that will inflame tensions and promote conflict," Blinken said in his statement.

Three days later, on May 29, thousands of Serbs gathered in front of the municipal building in Zvecan, where KFOR forces were stationed, demanding the withdrawal of Kosovo special police from the building and the resignation of mayor Ilir Peci. Peaceful protests with the same demands were also held in Leposavic and Zubin Potok, but incidents broke out during the day in Zvecan.

Stun grenades were thrown, Kosovo Police used firearms, KFOR used tear gas, stones were thrown from the crowd, and as a result, three Serbs and 30 KFOR soldiers were seriously injured. The most severely wounded was Dragisa Galjak (50), who was shot in the back by Kosovo Police. Dragisa Milovic and Caslav Sofronijevic also sustained serious bodily injuries. Due to tear gas and stun grenades, 52 people sought medical help at the Clinical Hospital Center in North Mitrovica.