Kosovo Closes Border Crossings Amid Rising Tensions with Serbia

Kosovo shut down two border crossings with Serbia due to protests in Serbia against recent actions in Kosovo's northern regions. Serbian protestors blocked roads and checked for Kosovo-issued documents, intensifying ethnic tensions. Kosovo condemned the actions, citing interference and a 'fascist approach.'

Kosovo took decisive action on Saturday by closing two of its border crossings with Serbia. The move came after protests on Serbian soil saw demonstrators partially blocking roads and turning back travelers holding Kosovo documents. This protest was in response to rising tensions in Kosovo's volatile north.

Announcing the closures of the Merdare and Bernjak crossings on social media, Kosovo's interior minister, Xhelal Svecla, condemned the actions as 'fascist.' He highlighted that these 'masked extremist groups' were selectively stopping citizens using Serbia as a transit route.

The protests are rooted in Pristina's recent measures in the predominantly ethnic-Serb northern Kosovo, which includes shutting down institutions run by Belgrade. The area, home to around 50,000 Serbs, rejects Kosovo's independence and continues to align with Belgrade. This region has seen significant ethnic tensions since Kosovo's independence in 2008, with Serbia still refusing to recognize it and accusing Kosovo of infringing on the rights of ethnic Serbs.

(With inputs from agencies.)