KOSOVO (Country risk rating: High); 22 February; Heightened security ahead of repeat elections in Kosovska Mitrovica Repeat municipal elections will be held in Kosovos northern city of Kosovska Mitrovica on 23 February. Additional security forces have been deployed to the city to safeguard the election that was called after the mayor-elect and winner of the second-round local elections, held on 1 December 2013, refused to take office. Recent elections in the city have been marred by violence. This included armed attacks on election venues in the city during the first round of voting on 3 November 2013, which necessitated repeat elections at three polling stations, as well as targeted attacks on mayoral candidates days before the vote. Most recently, an ethnic Serb member of the municipal assembly and losing mayoral candidate was shot and killed by unknown assailants outside of his home on 16 January. Tensions have been elevated in northern Kosovo and in Kosovska Mitrovica in particular following an EU-brokered agreement on the normalisation of ties between Kosovo and Serbia, concluded in April 2013. In terms of the agreement, Serbia conceded its legal authority over Kosovo (though without recognising it as a state) in exchange for Kosovo granting significant autonomy to its northern municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Kosovska Mitrovica. Nationalist elements in both countries denounced the agreement and actively campaigned against local elections. As such, the threat of a possible increase in low-level, targeted violence and/or disruptive protests by ethnic Serb groups in Kosovska Mitrovica is expected to persist in the immediate-term. Persons in the city are advised to monitor local developments closely and should avoid politically motivated gatherings and election-related venues as a precaution. Clients are also advised against all non-essential travel to the municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Kosovska Mitrovica due to tensions between ethnic Albanians and Serbs, frequent demonstrations, and regular incidents of targeted, low-level violence.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 15:22:41 +0000
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