Northern Kosovo Serbs against participation in population registration process

Northern Kosovo Serbs have expressed opposition to participation in the population registration process from April 5th to May 17th, 2024. Residents express themselves against the census idea because they disagree with the policies of Albin Kurti and hope they will become part of the census organised by the Serbian state itself.

Nenad Trifunovic, a citizen from northern Mitrovica, said that the population of this part has great distrust of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, for that reason he doubts there will be no census in the north.

The real question is whether there will be any census in northern Kosovo. It is great distrust of power in Pristina, because the measures that have taken them in the last few months in the north have caused enormous distrust and I don't believe in this census, and I think that's the opinion of all citizens in four Serb majority municipalities. It will remain for another time, certainly until a political agreement is reached, if there will be no agreement at all, says Nenad Trifunovic, citizen from north Mitrovica.

Darko Popovic, another citizen from this part of the town of Mitrovica, voiced opposition to his participation in the process, even if fined.

For what do I punish you if I don't? I don't know exactly yet, but I don't think so. For which to be punished, if I don't participate, no no, I don't believe”, says Darko Popovic, citizen of north Mitrovica for a2cn.

Meanwhile, North analyst Branislav Krstic disclosed to Kosovo Press that most Serbs are in almost a state of legal and collective depression. Aware of the sentences, he added that the process would not answer most, except for those who do not have properties in Serbia, as well as those who are willing to live in the state of Kosovo.

Most are not interested at all. Most Serbs are in a hibernation situation and collective depression.

I am sure that for now the process will only respond to those who do not have property in Serbia, as well as those who are willing to continue living in the state of Kosovo. Although they know that the state will condemn those who will refuse to participate in the census, most of them are not interested (in responding to registration)”, says Branislav Krstic, analyst.

There is no indicator, at least so far, that the process could fail in the north of the country. The preliminary results will be announced in three months, while final by the end of the year. The latest census in Kosovo was conducted in 2011, where the total number of residents in Kosovo is estimated to be around 1.8 million from this process.