Serbia: Shots fired at the administrative borders of Kosovo, near a KFOR patrol

The atmosphere between remains tense Serbia and Kosovo, as NATO on Sunday reported gunfire near a patrol of the international peacekeeping force KFOR in Mitrovica, where Serbian protesters have set up roadblocks aimed at preventing the deployment of a police force from Pristina.

According to KFOR management, no injuries or damage to the patrol vehicle were reported after the shots heard in the area of ​​Zubin Potok. Some 3,760 KFOR troops have been tasked with dealing with ethnic tensions in the region.

From December 10, Serbs have set up roadblocks demanding the release of a fellow ex-policeman arrested on charges of attacking serving policemen during a previous protest mobilization.

The government of Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asked KFOR to remove the roadblocks.

The Serbian mayors of his northern cities of Kosovoalong with local judges and around 600 police officers, resigned in early November to protest the Kurti government’s decision to replace Serbian car plates with ones issued by Pristina.

The chief of the General Staff of National Defense is moving to the area

Aleksandar Vucic sent the chief of the General Staff of the National Defense of Serbia to the administrative borders of Kosovoamid escalating tension in the region, as announced by General Milan Moisilovic himself.

In a telephone conversation with the Pink TV network, General Mojilovic said he was heading to the town of Raska (about 10 km from the administrative borders of Kosovo), following a meeting he had with President Vucic in Belgrade.

“The tasks undertaken by the Serbian army (…) are precise, very clear and will be fully implemented”, General Moisilovic emphasized. “The situation is complicated and requires in the near future the presence of the Serbian army along the administrative borders,” he added.

Shortly before the Serbian general’s departure for Raska, Serbian media broadcast a video showing gunshots, claiming it was “battles” that broke out when Kosovar police tried to break up one of the barricades set up by Serb protesters.

Kosovo police denied the reports, stating on their Facebook page that their members were not involved in an incident of exchange of fire.