Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti warns that Russia will exacerbate tensions between Kosovo and Russia’s ally Serbia as the war in Ukraine stagnates and Belgrade prepares to send troops to the region. In northern Kosovo, ethnic Serbs have blocked roads with barricades for more than a week in protest against the Kosovo government. This is despite calls from the US and the EU to dismantle illegal roadblocks.
The blockades, trucks, ambulances and agricultural vehicles were set up by masked and armed men following the arrest of an ethnic Serb former police officer suspected of involvement in the recent attacks on Kosovo police.
Finally, a large group of members of the Narodne Patrole, a Serbian nationalist organization linked to the Russian Wagner paramilitary group, gathered on the Serbian side of the Kosovo-Serb border on Sunday. The group threatened to confront KFOR NATO forces stationed there to prevent tensions between ethnic Serbs and Kosovars in the region from spiraling out of control.
NATO aid
Additionally, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has asked NATO for permission to send police and troops to protect Serbian communities in the area. While Vučić has the right to do so based on a UN resolution, the chance that his request will be honored is very small. Fears are growing that Serbia will deploy troops unilaterally.
Put in
Kosovo President Kurti fears that the tense situation will escalate in Putin’s favor. Serbia and Russia have been allies since the late 18th century, as of 2021, Serbian and Russian forces have held around 104 joint military exercises. Kurti also said he had given NATO troops more time to remove the barricades, but that this situation shouldn’t last much longer.
Kosovo used to be a province of Serbia, after a short civil war eventually involving NATO, the country gained independence from Serbia in 2008. Since then, NATO troops have maintained the fragile status quo. According to Kurti the barricades are the prelude to the partition of the country, he fears that the removal of the blocks will not be without victims. But, he says, “we cannot allow this violation of the law and the constitutionality forever.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has said that tensions must be resolved diplomatically, with respect for the rights of the Serbian minority.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
