The municipality of North Mitrovica has confirmed that it has closed a facility where Serbia’s Official Gazette and a bookstore operated, saying that “individuals without documentation for the use of the premises” were found inside.
“Due to the failure to present certificates or contracts, the facility has been closed until the required documentation is provided,” the announcement stated.
The Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo reacted to the case, emphasizing that Kosovo Police “has seized and closed the offices of the Official Gazette, thereby obstructing the normal supply of Serbian students and schools with textbooks and teaching materials.”
Educational institutions in Serb communities in Kosovo operate according to Serbia’s system, following the curriculum of the Serbian Ministry of Education.
However, in recent years there have been problems with the supply of textbooks for schools teaching in Serbian, as Kosovo authorities have not allowed their import — something highlighted by Serbian authorities as well as by non-governmental organizations.