Pristina’s decision to replace all Serbian license plates is causing tension in northern Kosovo. This afternoon, sirens sounded in all the cities of northern Kosovo where Serbs make up the majority.
Two major roads leading to the administrative border with Serbia were blocked by Serbs who set up roadblocks by positioning heavy trucks across the road. The Serbs blocked the roads after receiving information that Kosovo police special forces were heading toward the administrative border with Serbia. This information was denied by Besim Hoti, commander of the northern sector of the Mitrovica police. In the northern part of Mitrovica, Serbs are demonstrating in the central square, while at the same time, according to media reports, Albanians are preparing rallies in the southern part of the city.
Along the Ibar River, which separates the northern and southern parts of Mitrovica, a strong police presence and soldiers from the international peacekeeping forceKFOR.
The Serbian Ministry of Defense denies all reports circulating online regarding the Serbian army’s entry into Kosovo. ‘Due to the large volume of misinformation deliberately disseminated by Pristina and the reports circulating through fake social media accounts and certain websites, which claim that there have been clashes between the Serbian army and the so-called Kosovo police, the Ministry of Defense announces: «At this time, the Serbian army has not crossed the administrative line and has not entered Kosovo’s territory in any way,‘ the statement reads.
It should be noted that, starting early in the afternoon, false information was circulating on social media and websites in Ukraine and Russia regarding armed clashes between the Serbian army and Albaniansin northern Kosovo, where there were also casualties.
Russia: The Foreign Ministry calls on Pristina, the U.S., and the EU to «stop the provocations» and «respect the rights of Serbs» in Kosovo
Russian diplomats describe the developments in Kosovo as proof of the failure of the EU’s mediation initiative and call on Pristina, the U.S., and the EU «to stop the provocations and respect the rights of Serbs in Kosovo.».
A statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, distributed to Russian media outlets yesterday, Sunday evening, reads:
«The decision by the ‘authorities’ in Pristina to begin enforcing, as of August 1, unfounded discriminatory ‘rules’ regarding the forced replacement of personal documents and license plates (for cars) of Serbs in the region is yet another step toward the expulsion of the Serbian population from Kosovo, and the dismantling of the institutions of the Serbs of Kosovo that ensure the protection of the rights of Serbian residents from the arbitrariness of the Pristina radicals led by ‘Prime Minister’ Albin Kurti.
The leaders of Kosovo know that the Serbs will not stand idly by when their freedoms are under direct attack, and they are deliberately escalating tensions, in order to set a scenario of violence in motion. It goes without saying that Belgrade is also on the cutting edge of this attack, and the West wants to ‘neutralize’ it through the hands of the Kosovo Albanians.
We call on Pristina, as well as the U.S. and the EU, which are backing it, to stop their provocations and respect the rights of Serbs in Kosovo.
This turn of events is yet another indication of the failure of the European Union’s mediation mission. It is also an example of the position the European Union has prepared for Serbia, by suggesting that Belgrade come to terms, de facto, with the deprivation of its compatriots» rights.”.
Russia calls on Pristina to respect the rights of Serbs in northern Kosovo
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on Kosovo’s political leadership to stop what it called «provocations,» and stated that the decision to replace Serbian license plates and Serbian police ID cards is part of an effort «expel» the Serbian population from Kosovo.
«The leaders of the Albanians in Kosovo know that the Serbs will not remain indifferent when their freedoms are directly threatened, and they are deliberately escalating the situation to trigger a military. Of course, Belgrade is also a target of these sharp attacks, and the West wants to further neutralize it by using Albanian proxies,» according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, as reported by Serbian public television (RTS).
Moscow claims that the United States and the EU are behind Pristina’s actions and calls on them to respect the rights of Serbs in northern Kosovo.
Serbs in northern Kosovo set up roadblocks yesterday afternoon, Sunday, on two main roads leading to the administrative border with Serbia. They took this action in protest of Pristina’s decision to require the replacement of Serbian license plates with ones issued by the Kosovar authorities. Furthermore, starting at midnight, Pristina will no longer accept Serbian police IDs for entry into Kosovo.
