Tensions in North Mitrovica are likely to resurface

Although over three weeks have passed since the extraordinary elections were held in the four northern municipalities of Mitrovica, and more than two weeks since the certification of the results by the Central Electoral Commission, the new mayors of these municipalities have not yet begun their work. In the April 23 elections in the four northern municipalities, Albanian candidates from the Democratic Party of Kosova and Vetëvendosje, the party in power, emerged as winners. Otherwise the largest party representing Serbs in Kosova, Lista Srpska, declined to participate in these elections. Lista Srpska is regarded Aleksandar Vucic`puppet, enjoying the support of the official Belgrade, and has consistently been used to monopolize and manipulate the political life of Kosova Serbs.

Since the northern municipalities’ results were certified, incidents such as break-ins near the Kosova Police stations and municipal buildings, and the nighttime welding of the Zubin Potok municipality’s doors, have occurred. These incidents aim to hinder the initiation of work within the existing structures resulting from the last elections and have contributed to the heightened tension in the region. Serbian President Vucic himself, when questioned by the Serbian media about the elections in northern Kosova, warned of a “major crisis” and linked it to the inauguration of the new mayors.

Radio Free Europe has reported the reinstallation of Serbian police stations and the Ministry of Interior of Serbia in the four municipalities north of Mitrovica, referring to a report from a security institution in Kosova. According to this report, since May 11 of this year, the offices of the Serbian MUP have been established in the northern part of Mitrovica. Serb illegal structures were functional until 2013 after that they mainly have been integrated into the Kosova Police following the Brussels agreement. However, most of them resigned in November last year, due to their objection on Kosova Government decision of to replace Serbian license plates of vehicles with Kosova ones. Since then, the Belgrade authorities have provided working contracts to these persons with the same salaries they had received from Kosova institutions. The time has now come for them to justify the salaries received from Belgrade.

The same report that RFE refers to, mentions a visit by the Serbian former head of operations in the Kosova Police for the northern region, Aleksandar Filipovic, to the premises of the Information Agency (BIA) in Belgrade. Filipovic, also known as ‘Vulin`s man’, was integrated into the Kosova Police as part of the Brussels agreement. Last year, he was decorated with the Gold Medal for Courage by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for his act of resignation from the Kosova Police.

Belgrade has recently experienced developments that have shaken Vucic’s power. Massive protests have gripped Belgrade following shootings that resulted in the death of 17 people and injuries to 20 others. Protesters are demanding the resignation of the government and President Vucic, but the latter has decided to respond to public dissatisfaction with snap elections. Despite a series of tense public demonstrations calling for him to step down, he insists that ‘there will be no Maidan in Belgrade’.

However, despite his lofty declarations, Vucic seems to have realized that public anger in Belgrade is increasing. This has led him to call for snap elections, marking the third time in just four years. Therefor he intends to reopen the battle for North Mitrovica during the campaigns, in order to win another presidential mandate. The recent developments in the north of Kosova are part of his pre-election strategy. He will leverage illegal structures and criminal gangs, which have undermined security in the region since the post-war period as Vucic`s political pawns. Based on previous experiences, we are aware that Vucic first warns of the crises that will cause himself, then undertakes the role of a victim to exploit the situation and present himself as the figure who will establish peace by resolving self-inflicted tensions. The destabilization of North Mitrovica is likely to happen as Vucic seeks to divert Serbian public attention from the situation created by the massive protests and recent murders. Additionally, Vucic’s warning of snap elections aligns with his pattern of using the Kosova issue as a campaign strategy in Serbian elections, emphasizing his commitment to keeping Kosova as part of Serbia.