Manojlovic: Nowhere in Europe are human rights violated like in Kosovska Mitrovica

According to N1's reporter in the Serb-majority northern Mitrovica, many residents were surprised by pro-government media reports suggesting that the Serbian President might declare some form of territorial occupation during his public address on Friday. While they saw this as unrealistic, they expect possible pressure on the international community, especially regarding the Kosovo police, widely believed to be abusing their authority and even brutal in some interventions.

Savo Manojlovic, who was born in Pristina, stresses that Serbs and non-Albanians have never faced more challenging times.

“We often receive reports of Kosovo police brutality. We will meet with people who have been arrested and their families. All agreements have been simply violated, and this is perhaps the area where a single ethnic group’s rights are most severely infringed upon in Europe, excluding war-torn Ukraine,” he emphasized.

Manojlovic recalled the ongoing harassment, beaten youths, and activists arrested for blowing whistles. He highlighted the challenges faced by Serbs receiving salaries from central Serbia.

“People are left to fend for themselves, and their fate is seldom discussed. Tabloids that often exploited the fate of Kosovo Serbs are now silent,” he noted.

Manojlovic is certain that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic won’t declare territorial occupation.

“This policy of saying one thing in the media and tabloids, another to foreign ambassadors behind closed doors, a third to Kosovo Serbs, and a fourth to the electorate, has collapsed. Perhaps it is best symbolized by these flags, neglected even by those who politically placed them,” he said, pointing to faded and torn Serbian flags flying over Mitrovica’s promenade.

Manojlovic added that, despite the challenges, he sees determination, hope, and a strong will among the people of northern Kosovo to stay in their homes.