Christmas in Kosovo marred by anti-Serbian protests
Unknown persons set fire to the car of the vice-speaker of the Kosovo “parliament” from the Serbian List party and the head of the Kosovo-Mitrovica administrative district, Slavko Simic.
This was reported by Radio Mitrovica, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The incident took place on Milan Radulović Krčun Street in Leposavić, not far from the house where Simić lives. There were no casualties.
Kosovo Police spokesman Branislav Radovic said the fire occurred at approximately 0:25 on the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
“The vehicle was parked in an unfinished garage in front of the building where the owner lived,” Radovich said.
He added that the fire was contained, but the Peugeot car, worth about six thousand euros, was completely destroyed.
Official Belgrade responded to the incident. Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Affairs Marko Djuric said that the burning of the car was an attempt to put pressure on those who are fighting for the rights of the Serbian people in the region captured by the separatists.
“The fact that this happened in Leposavić, in the far north of Kosovo and Metohija, should indicate that fighters for the rights of the Serbian people are not safe anywhere, and that their lives and property are under threat wherever they are.” , Djuric said.
He considers the arson another attempt to squeeze the Slavic population out of the region. “Nothing can shake our people to stay in Kosovo and Metohija,” the official said.
At the same time, other anti-Serbian actions were recorded in northern Kosovo. Offensive graffiti appeared in the Serbian village of Pašane.
“On the days of the biggest Orthodox holiday, citizens saw inscriptions imbued with hatred and hostility towards the Serbian people,” said Partes Mayor Dragan Petkovic.
In Djakovica (Kosovo and Metohija), local Albanians traditionally gathered near an Orthodox church to prevent Serbs expelled from the city from visiting the church on Christmas and bringing “badnjak” - oak branches. After local police commander Krista Gjokaj announced that the Serbs would not come, the Albanians dispersed.
Christmas in Kosovo marred by anti-Serb protests