Kosovo Declares Serb Groups in North ‘Terrorists’

Kosovo on Thursday declared two groups operating in the Serb-majority north of Kosovo Civilna Zastita (Civil Protection) and Brigada Sever (North Brigade) terrorist organisations.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said: "Based on the evaluations of the Kosovo security institutions, the illegal formations, Civil Protection and its component North Brigade pose a serious and direct threat for the constitutional order and security of Kosovo."

According to Kurti the formations have "recruited and trained members to use weapons and combat methods at military bases in Serbia with the purpose of carrying out attacks against local institutions and international missions in Kosovo".

After the government meeting, Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla, said: "They committed illegal acts, such as the attack against the officials of the KKZ (Municipal Election Commission), KFOR and EUEX, the burning of cars with legal license plates, attacks and threats with the purpose of intimidation and non-participation in elections, attacks against journalists, attack with hand grenade against facilities and against the static point of the police last night," in North Mitrovica, Svecla claimed.

Svecla said the activities of the formations must immediately stop after the government's decision to declare them terrorist.

On June 13, 2023, Kosovo police arrested Kosovo Serb Milun "Lune" Milenkovic on suspicion of orchestrating attacks against NATO peacekeepers at the end of May, where 30 soldiers and around 50 protesters were injured. According to Svecla, Milenkovic is the leader of Civil Protection "and the leader of criminal gangs" in the north.

However, the Minister for Communities and Returns, Kosovo Serb Nenad Rasic, was against the decision, claiming it is...