Leaders of closed Serbian institutions in Kosovo summoned for questioning as suspects

Last Friday, Kosovo police conducted a series of raids across eight locations in the northern municipalities, ultimately shutting down four key buildings. Among these were the Temporary Authority and the offices of the Pension and Disability Insurance (PIO) Fund in North Mitrovica, two of the most significant Serbian-run institutions in the area. Similar actions were taken in Zvecani and Leposavic, where authorities believe that municipal services had been functioning from unauthorized locations over recent months. However, in Zubin Potok, the police did not find the targeted services.

In the aftermath of these closures, Kosovo police issued official summonses to five Serbian individuals connected to the case, accusing them of document forgery. Deputy Police Commander Veton Eljshani confirmed that the charges are based on the use of Serbian documentation within Kosovo, which the authorities consider illegal. Although the fifth individual is currently outside Kosovo and has not yet received an official summons, the other four have been notified to appear for questioning on September 5.

While the police have not disclosed the identities of those involved, KoSSev reports that they include prominent figures such as the heads of the Temporary Authorities in Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecani, and Leposavic—Ivan Zaporozac, Ivan Todosijevic, and Zoran Todic, respectively—as well as Igor Simic, the director of the PIO Fund in Mitrovica, and Milan Radojevic, the former mayor of North Mitrovica under the Kosovo system. These individuals are all high-ranking members of the Serbian List, a political party that has played a significant role in both the Serbian and Kosovo political systems.

KoSSev attempted to contact these officials, but so far, none have responded to calls or messages.

Following the police operation, signs and labels on the seized buildings were quickly replaced with those of Kosovo institutions. However, despite these changes, the new institutions have not yet started functioning in these locations. The buildings remain cordoned off with yellow tape, and Kosovo police are guarding them.

As the situation continues to unfold, former employees of the closed institutions have been gathering each morning this week at their former workplaces, demanding the right to return to their jobs. Their leaders stress that these gatherings are not protests but rather a peaceful appeal to resume their duties. Meanwhile, some media outlets have reported that these gatherings have effectively led to a "blockade of institutions" since last Friday.

However, Deputy Police Commander Eljshani made it clear in a statement to KoSSev that Serbian institutions will not be reopened. "They are closed, and that is final," he stated succinctly, signaling a firm stance on the matter.

The situation remains tense, with many uncertainties about how the affected communities will move forward and how these closures will impact the broader political landscape in the region. The ongoing investigation and potential legal proceedings could further escalate tensions between Serbian and Kosovo authorities, with significant implications for the stability of northern Kosovo.