“Tensions Rise in Northern Kosovo as Ethnic Serbs Riot Over Albanian Mayors”

Tensions have risen in the north of Kosovo after Albanian mayors were elected in elections in four municipalities. Ethnic Serbs tried to prevent the mayors from being installed this weekend. Today there were riots between Serbs and the police at town halls, in which tear gas was used.

Almost exclusively Serbs live in the municipalities where the Albanians were elected last month. The Serbs boycotted the elections, so turnout was very low: less than 4 percent. They do not recognize the mayors as representatives, but the government in the capital Pristina stands firm.

Kosovo today deployed police and the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR to allow politicians access to town halls and prevent Serbs from storming town halls.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic condemned KFOR’s efforts and implied that the mayors took power illegally. “But we must protect peace, because peace is all we have,” she concluded her statement.

Serbia and Kosovo have been at odds for decades. This led to a guerrilla war in 1998 and 1999, with which the Albanian majority in Kosovo wanted to achieve secession from Serbia. Ethnic Albanians represent more than 90 percent of the population in all of Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia continues to see the country as its own province. The United States and most EU countries, including the Netherlands, do recognize Kosovo as a country. Russia does not recognize the country and maintains good relations with Serbia.

The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia, led by EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, held talks in March to normalize the relationship. They then agreed on a number of points. A good relationship between the two countries has become even more important after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU and the US believe.