Sweden: Citizens in the north should not fall prey to the manipulations of criminals

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Xelal Sveçla, has said that the mayors of the Zveçan, Zubin-Potok and Leposavic municipalities have settled in their offices in the municipal facilities as he called on the local Serbian citizens not to fall prey to the manipulations of criminal groups for opposed.

Amid tensions, the new mayors of the three municipalities in the north of Kosovo - Leposaviq, Zveçan and Zubin-Potok - entered the municipal facilities on Friday, a day after the oath. They needed the intervention of the Police to remove the protesters and the barricades in front of the municipal buildings. The police have faced stun grenades and gun shots from the protesters. On the other hand, Serbia has put the army on high combat readiness.

"After yesterday's swearing-in ceremonies of the Mayors of the northern municipalities, the mayors of the Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq municipalities have settled in their offices in the municipal facilities today. They will continue their mandate by being at the service of all citizens without distinction. I congratulate the Kosovo Police for the professionalism shown in dealing with organized criminal groups, which aimed to hinder this process. 5 members of the police were injured by the attacks of these groups, but fortunately the injuries are minor, they feel well and are on duty. I invite all our citizens not to fall prey to the manipulations of criminal groups who, for the sake of personal and group criminal benefits, want chaos and suspension of the rule of law and democracy", Sveçla wrote on Facebook.

He said that the institutions of Kosovo will be at the service of the citizens of the country "without distinction and without compromise with the attackers of democracy, law and citizenship".