Cultural heritage in Prizren continues to face many challenges!

Cultural heritage assets in Prizren have been facing many challenges for years, especially in terms of their preservation, protection and promotion. The data of the competent institutions show that challenges of this nature were also present during 2020.

According to the information presented by the Regional Center of Cultural Heritage in Prizren, in the period January-December 2020 in Prizren, 3 cases of damage to cultural heritage buildings, and 12 cases of unauthorized works or exceeding the conditions of consent were recorded, where In 2 cases, the unauthorized works were carried out by the municipal bodies.

While the Inspectorate of Cultural Heritage in MKRS has announced that in the period March-December 2020, in 4 cases it issued decisions to stop works and obligate the parties to return the assets to their previous state. ITK has filed 1 criminal complaint in this time period.

The Council for Cultural Heritage of the Historical Center of Prizren has mentioned 4 cases of activities without permission and without examination in this area, as well as the changing of shop windows. KTK has confirmed that the challenges identified in the Historical Center are numerous, "starting with constructions, unauthorized activities (closing the terraces in front of the premises with PVC or glass and metal construction), placing illuminated advertisements on the front of the premises (more than 1m2 and with inappropriate designs), not good management of waste and the location of containers and road waste in large numbers that are not removed, illegal parking lots and occupation of sidewalks by cars, access of vehicles without permission inside Shadërvan Square, driving over monuments (the old Stone Bridge) and many other issues and activities that we think should be discussed".

The Directorate of Inspectorates in the Municipality of Prizren has announced that during 2020 it has identified violations in 10 objects in the cultural heritage areas in Prizren, in which case it has imposed 6 mandatory fines and 4 criminal reports, as well as issued 3 decisions for ruin

The regional police of Prizren has emphasized that 8 cases have been initiated this year, where 6 have already been processed at the Prosecutor's Office and 2 are under investigation, of which 5 cases are in the Prizren-South Police Station and 2 cases in the Prizren-North Police Station.

The Basic Prosecutor's Office in Prizren has affirmed that during 2020, regarding the damage to the cultural heritage in Prizren, it received 3 criminal reports against 3 suspected people. This prosecutor has filed an indictment with the Basic Court in Prizren for the criminal offense of damage, destruction and unauthorized removal of monuments or objects protected outside the Republic of Kosovo by Article 354 of the Criminal Code, in 3 criminal reports against 3 people.

The Basic Court in Prizren has announced that for the criminal offenses from Article 354 for the period January - December 2020, 4 cases have been recorded, where in 1 case this court has issued a judgment with a punitive order, i.e. a penalty with a fine, while 3 other cases are pending .

The preservation, protection and promotion of cultural heritage in Prizren requires dedication and work from cross-sectoral actors and the relevant institutions must exercise all their responsibilities, in order to increase efficiency in this regard.

Rrjetëzimi