Statement of the Collective of the Institute for Serbian Culture Pristhina-Leposavic

In a series of coordinated attacks on Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija, the brutal raid by special units of the Kosovo police on the Institute for Serbian Culture in Leposavic is particularly alarming. This act represents a direct assault on Serbian cultural heritage and identity, as well as on the foundations of multicultural coexistence in this region.

Founded in 1987, the Institute for Serbian Culture Pristhina-Leposavic has been a cornerstone in preserving the rich and layered cultural heritage of all the peoples who have coexisted in Kosovo and Metohija for centuries. With a special focus on Serbian culture, the Institute has systematically collected, analyzed, and preserved invaluable material and intangible evidence of the region’s past. As a multidisciplinary institution, the Institute brings together experts from various fields of social and human sciences, enabling a comprehensive approach to researching the complex cultural heritage. With 56 employees, including 30 PhDs and 19 doctoral candidates, the Institute has built a reputation as a serious scientific institution.

The vandalistic attack on this scientific institution is an attempt to hinder its work and, consequently, to erase not only the material but also the intangible heritage that we have built over centuries. While extremely disturbing, this aggression highlights the urgent necessity of our noble mission—to preserve Serbian cultural identity in these challenging times. We call on the international community to join us in the fight to preserve peace and stability in the region.

Collective of the Institute for Serbian Culture Pristhina-Leposavic