Demolition of the "Jezero" hotel in Gazivode without any court decision caused the indignation of Kosovo Serbs.
In the company "Ibar-Lepenac", they claim that more than 80 buildings, mostly cottages, were illegally built on their land.
This is just one in a series of property disputes in Kosovo, but unique in that a public-private company simply takes matters into its own hands. All Serbian nationalities were damaged.
Gazivode and the beach there are a favorite meeting place for people from Zubin Potok.
"It is not clear whether the cottages are legal, but it is clear that the demolition is illegal," says Milica Andrić Rakić from the New Social Initiative, a non-governmental organization from the north of Kosovo.
The police are guarding the excavators.
The area around Gazivode has been marked by expropriation and unresolved relations for decades. Furthermore, it is difficult to untangle what land belongs to the municipality, what belongs to the water company, and what belongs to the citizens.
The only thing that is known, explains Andrić Rakić for "Vreme", is that ten meters from the lake the company "Ibar-Lepenac" claims the right and that nothing can be built there except for facilities intended for water management.
There are about 150 cottages and houses around the lake.
"Some are in the restricted zone, some are not. Some have papers, some don't. Some have Serbian papers that Pristina may not recognize. But this kind of demolition is illegal. Because the public-private company 'Ibar-Lepenac' appeared to inform people to move out within 15 days, and then it started to demolish, without any court decision, and with the protection of the police."
The reactions of the EU and Western countries that "expressed concern" did not seem to leave an impression on the Kosovo authorities.
Complaint to the Ombudsman
On the previous two occasions when the cottages were demolished - a total of 16 were demolished - the owners asked the court to impose a temporary measure and stop the demolition, but the court did not do so because it estimated that there would be no damage.
In the case of the demolition of the "Jezero" hotel, a hearing was even scheduled - and it was demolished anyway.
"Some other owners were given a completely different order - to prove within seven days that they own the land and that they are the owners. Again without any court order. What right does a company have to request access to someone's documents?", asks our sagvoornica.
As Andrić-Rakić adds, people don't even have time to complain. "We filed a complaint with the ombudsman because the police are guarding the company while it is demolishing instead of guarding people's property."
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
