The situation in the north of the partially recognized, predominantly Serb-inhabited state of Kosovo began to escalate on December 10. It was on that day that an incident occurred at the Jarinje crossing point.
Dejan Pantic, a former Kosovo police officer (ethnic Serbian), was detained at the checkpoint that day and is now being charged with “terrorism.” In response, numerous members of the Serbian population of Kosovo took to the streets. Highways were blocked and barricades erected. One of the goals of these actions was to prevent Pantic from being transported to Pristina.
At the request of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, European Union (EU) and NATO-led International Security Force in Kosovo (KFOR) patrols were quickly dispatched to the barricades. Moreover, later, a Kosovo police special squad in armored vehicles illegally entered the Gazivode hydroelectric dam, where Serbian flags were torn down. Shots and explosions were heard in the region.
Kurti gave an ultimatum to the Serbs to stop the protests, setting a deadline of December 11, and threatened “effective intervention” of the police otherwise. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell was also involved in the situation, saying that the sides should “avoid escalation” and that the mission would continue coordinating with both the Kosovo authorities and the Kosovo Force. Moreover, Borrell demanded that the barricades of Kosovo Serbs be “immediately removed.”
Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called a meeting of the National Security Council “in connection with the actions of the Prime Minister of Kosovo.” In addition, the Serbian leader sent a request for the deployment of state power structures in the republic under paragraph 4 of UN Security Council resolution 1244. According to Vucic, from the legal point of view, there is “no reason” to reject this request, but such a scenario is “quite possible.” Vucic accused Kurti of “unwillingness” to solve the Serbian problem in northern Kosovo, and also noted the total lack of response of the international community to the situation.
It is noteworthy that already on December 15 Pristina intended to apply for membership in the European Union, although only countries recognized by the international community can apply for it. In fact, this is in violation of the Washington accord and is an extremely unpleasant development for Serbia, as well as an indicator that compliance with the agreements reached during the Republican administration there is out of the question.
Recall that in 2008, the Albanian-majority political institutions in Pristina declared their independence from Serbia. But, according to the constitution of Serbia, this territory is an autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija within the country. Dozens of states, including Russia, have not recognized the Republic of Kosovo, and now Belgrade and Pristina are once again blaming each other for the aggravation.
According to Kurti, Serbian authorities “threaten” the republic with military aggression, although Kosovo “seeks dialogue and peace.” In response to this, Serbian Prime Minister Anna Brnabić said that “what Albin Kurti considers as threats, are our persistent calls for peace and stability, open and honest dialogue, respect and full implementation of any and all agreements reached so far between Belgrade and Pristina.”
Recall that against the backdrop of a new aggravation in the former Yugoslavia, Aleksandar Vucic convened a meeting of the Serbian security agencies. Earlier, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic had said that if the President of his country ordered his army to “protect Serbs” living in Kosovo, the military would take “all necessary measures” to do so. The situation in this region of the Adriatic remains extremely tense.