So-called Kosovo Police raid social work centres in Leposavic, K Mitrovica, Zvecan

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - The so-called Kosovo Police raided the offices of Serbian government-run social work centres in Leposavic, Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan in the north of Kosovo-Metohija on Friday morning.

Eulex representatives are on the scene and a search of the offices is underway, local Most TV reports.

The so-called Kosovo Police seized documentation and closed the Kosovska Mitrovica inter-municipal social work centre, arraigning its director Sonja Obradovic for questioning, the RTS reported.

Pristina's police said it was checking the operations of the social work centres on orders from prosecutors after the detention of four employees of a Zubin Potok social work centre a day before the February 9 elections following a report the institution was allegedly influencing voters.

The so-called Kosovo Police also said it suspected the other social work centres in the north of Kosovo-Metohija had engaged in the same practice.

Thousands of people depend on the centres for various benefits.

Pristina has continued to illegally shut down Serbian institutions in the autonomous province this year, further worsening the position of Serbs.

On January 15, it closed about 35 Serbian institutions south of the Ibar River, including provisional authorities, municipalities, social work centres and Post of Serbia offices.