The 3.5% Turnout and Unrest in Zvecan
The recent municipal election in Zvecan, a northern town near the border with Serbia, drew intense attention as turnout collapsed to around 3.5 percent. In a region long scarred by conflict, even a modest vote count can spark upheaval. The latest results provoked protests marked by violence, leaving several people injured in a landscape already strained by tension between communities.
At the heart of the turmoil was the victory of Albanian candidate Ilir Peci in a predominantly Serb area. With a population of about 16,650, the town saw only 204 ballots cast, a turnout described as minimal because many Serbs refused to participate. The boycott reflected a broader stance: many residents do not recognize Kosovo’s statehood and advocate for reunification with Serbia.
The situation is not isolated to Zvecan. It is part of a wider pattern in Northern Kosovo, a zone where Albanians, who form the majority of the country, and Serbs, who are strongest in the northern municipalities, live in close proximity but with deep-seated disagreements. Coexistence has been challenging for years, and the atmosphere remains tense in neighboring towns such as Zubin Potok, northern Mitrovica, and Leposavic.
Protests and Police Response
The Serb boycott translated into a remarkably low participation rate and unusual election results. In some polling stations, like Velje Breg, not a single vote was registered. Of the 204 ballots counted in Zvecan, 114 backed the Democratic Party of Kosovo under Ilir Peci, and the rest supported other Albanian-backed candidates, including Lëvizja Vetevendosje (LVV) which collected 73 votes. The composition underscored the electoral footprint of Albanian parties in a town with a substantial Serb segment.
Rising tensions spilled into the streets as protesters, led by radical Serbian nationalists, demanded the removal of the new leadership and denounced Peci’s installation in the city council. The clashes began on a Monday when demonstrators attempted to breach municipal facilities. Kosovo police, with ongoing support from KFOR, used pepper spray to push back crowds defending the status quo. In symbolic acts, the new Albanian authorities removed the Serbian flag from the consulate and replaced it with the Kosovo flag, a gesture seen by Serbs as an affront to their identity.
Security forces employed batons and shields to disperse the crowd while protesters responded with projectiles, including glass bottles and Molotov cocktails. Local sources described a volatile scene as dozens of officers and civilians sustained injuries. Reports from Kosovar media indicated dozens of wounded and dozens of police personnel affected during the confrontations.
In a public address delivered on the day of taking office, Ilir Peci promised equal protection for all residents of Zvecan, regardless of their ethnic background. The pledge stressed a commitment to peaceful living and to stabilizing the city before advancing broader reforms. A statement from the Community Office in Lipë, a village with a predominantly Albanian population, echoed the sentiment: residents there reported no immediate protests nearby, while Peci expressed a desire to meet with international representatives to discuss next steps. Meanwhile, Serbs in the town remained steadfast, continuing to demonstrate their presence in the streets and resisting the new administration’s attempts to enter municipal spaces.