Serbian organizations “Civil Defense” and “Northern Brigade” are declared terrorist

The Kosovo government in its meeting on Thursday declared Serbian organizations “Civil Defense” (Civilna Zaštita) and “Northern Brigade” (Severna Brigada) as terrorist’s organzation operating in the northern part of the country, where a majority of Serbs live.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti told the government cabinet that these two organizations pose a serious threat to constitutional order and security in Kosovo.

“According to the assessment of security institutions, these illegal formations pose a serious threat to constitutional order and security in Kosovo,” he said. “Based on the fact that the threat to the legal and constitutional order in our country is uncompromising and with the aim of protecting all citizens without distinction, ‘Civil Defense’ and ‘North Brigade’ are declared terrorist organizations,” he said.

This government proposal was rejected by the Minister of Communities and Returns, Nenad Rašić, who asked the Minister of Interior, Xhelal Sveçla, to reconsider the proposal and not to “make hasty decisions.”

“Some proposals seem rushed and I think we should proceed very carefully. As for your minister, you are a hard worker. I ask you to reconsider this proposal and decision if there is another opportunity, because I fear we will be separated from our interlocutors in the north. Such an approach will take us far apart,” Rašić said.

Sveçla replied that declaring these organizations as terrorists is crucial for citizens.

He also said that this decision does not affect the members of these two previously integrated organizations.

“This decision does not affect anyone who was part of these organizations until the time of their declaration as terrorist organizations and who has not already committed criminal acts.” Therefore, the previously integrated members of these organizations are not at risk,” the minister said./Telegrafi/