On Wednesday, Kosovo’s Environmental Inspectorate demolished five illegally constructed structures on public property near Radoniq Lake in the Gjakove region, as authorities continue to target unauthorised construction on protected and publicly owned land.

The latest demolitions follow similar operations around Ujman/Gazivoda lake in northern Kosovo, where several villas built without permits on land belonging to the public water management enterprise Iber-Lepenc were demolished in late June and July.

Fitore Pacolli, acting minister of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure, said the government would continue such operations “in order to protect public property and water resources.”

“Public property and our natural spaces will be protected decisively,” Pacolli wrote in a post on Facebook on Wednesday, alongside footage of the demolitions. “We will continue with such actions to establish legality in every corner of Kosovo, while protecting public water property, drinking-water sources, and Kosovo’s natural beauty.”

The move comes a few weeks after Kosovo authorities demolished a dozen villas near Ujman/Gazivoda lake in the Serb-majority north, which prompted concern from international missions in Kosovo over the removal of several villas belonging to local Serbs.

On July 22, the European Union Office in Kosovo said it regretted the demolitions, noting that the affected residents had initiated court proceedings within the 15-day deadline set in notices issued by Iber-Lepenc ordering them to vacate the land.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo also stressed that any action affecting property rights, including the demolition of illegally constructed buildings, must comply strictly with the applicable legal framework and respect due process. The mission also emphasised that selective or uneven application of the law risks undermining public confidence and negatively affects inter-community relations and trust.

Pacolli previously defended the government’s actions around Lake Ujman/Gazivoda by saying that protecting Kosovo’s water resources remained a top priority, as they are vital assets for Kosovo.

EU, OSCE Missions Criticise Kosovo’s Demolition of Serb-Owned Villas