Barricades still Up in North Kosovo as Administrative Checkpoints Remain Closed

Barricade Kosovo (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC/EV)

The Serbs in the municipalities of Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic in North Kosovo had been guarding barricades for ten days now in protest over the arrest of local Serbs and the presence of the Kosovo police. Elementary school pupils had gone back to classrooms, while high school students would continue to attend online classes, state public broadcaster RTS reported on Dec. 19.  

Administrative checkpoints in Jarinje and Brnjak, controlled by the Kosovo police, have also been blocked for ten days now. The NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) has said they have increased their presence at Jarinje administrative checkpoint for preventive security reasons.  

On Dec. 18, right-wingers gathered at Jarinje administrative checkpoint on the side of central Serbia. The rally had been announced on social networks and by some right-wing media outlets. The rally participants said they had gathered with the aim of “unblocking the checkpoint to enable crossing for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.”