CNN analysis: Why Serbs attacked NATO in northern Kosovo, how Vucic benefits

Dozens of NATO peacekeepers were injured after they were attacked by ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo during protests against the deployment of Albanian mayors.

Violence erupted after Serb demonstrators tried to block newly elected mayors from taking office in the separate town of Zvecan on Monday, following controversial elections in April. As this kind of violence against peacekeepers is rare, tensions have increased in the region in recent months, driven by deep historical divisions. Here's what you need to know.

What is the background of events?

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, after the 1998-99 war, in which Kosovo Albanians tried to secede from what was then the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, composed of Serbia and today's Montenegro. NATO went to war to protect the Kosovo Albanian majority. Serbia views Kosovo as a breakaway part and does not recognise its independence. Kosovo Serbs see themselves as part of Serbia and view Belgrade as their capital, instead of Pristina.

The majority of Kosovo Serbs -- less than 1/10 of the general population -- live in northern regions and have increasingly sought autonomy from the ethnic Albanian majority.

The 2013 Brussels agreement mediated by the EU tried to normalise relations between the two countries. Under this agreement, Serbia may create autonomous municipalities in the northern region, but these will have to operate under the Kosovo legal system, with Kosovo police remaining the only police force. More than a decade later, these municipalities have not been created, leaving disputes over the degree of autonomy for Kosovo Serbs to chafe.

Even seemingly minor details can cause great explosions. For years, Kosovo has wanted Serbs to change car plates from Serbian to Pristina. Last year, the Kosovo government announced a two-month period in which the plates had to be changed, but postponed the date after the protests.

Ethnic Serb mayors in northern municipalities, together with local judges and about 600 police officers, resigned in November in protest against the change of plates.

What caused the new violence?

In March, the two countries signed a new agreement in Ohrid, North Macedonia, aiming again to normalise relations. But that was followed by controversial local elections in 4 northern Kosovo municipalities.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called on ethnic Serbs in the region to boycott the elections, saying they should no longer tolerate a “invasion” foreign.

The Serbian list, the main political party in the region, called on the Serb community not to vote in the elections and candidates not run '%s', allowing only ethnic Albanian candidates to compete.

Fearing possible violence, the Kosovo Central Election Commission changed plans for the deployment of voting booths in local schools, and instead set up mobile centres patrolled by NATO peacekeepers.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said there has been a threatening <x0fushat orchestrated by Belgrade and executed through intimidation, pressure and blackmail by criminal groups”. Following the closure of polling stations, election officials said only about 567 people had voted in all four municipalities a 3.5% turnout, according to local media.

Small turnout was a sign of the success of the boycott in these Serb majority regions. The Zvecan municipality has about 16 800 inhabitants. Of them, more than 16,000 are ethnic Serbs, with only about 500 ethnic Albanians.

The newly elected Albanian mayor in Zvecan won by almost 100 votes, calling that his authority is illegal.

What happened Monday?

Ethnic Serb protesters threw Molotov cocktails on NATO troops (KFOR) and used sticks to hit their shields as peacekeepers protected the municipal office in Zvecan. KFOR said 30 of its peacekeepers were injured, mainly by its Italian and Hungarian contingents.

The soldiers suffered <x0... collapse and burns from improvised explosive devices”, while 3 soldiers were “laughed from the use of firearms”, according to KFOR.

The peacekeeping mission said it had increased its presence in northern Kosovo after newly elected Albanian mayors took office in Kosovo's majority-Serb areas. Its goal is to reduce the risk of escalation”, KFOR said, but troops “were then attacked by increasingly aggressive” crowd.

In a statement, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the situation in northern Kosovo “has never been more difficult”.

The response?

European leaders were quick to condemn violence. Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said he had contacts with Kurti and Vucic and urged the <x0nds of both sides to urgently take measures to de-tradition tensions immediately and unconditionally. ”

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, Borrell said the EU “functions in the harshest terms of violence in northern Kosovo, seen in the last days”.

France's Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming that “is more essential than ever for Pristina and Belgrade to show responsibility by returning to the negotiating table with a compromise stance in the service of peace and prosperity of Serbian citizens and Kosova”.

As European leaders try to establish a careful balance between the two countries, other countries have come to the defense of Serbia.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Mao Ning said on Tuesday: “We support Serbia's efforts to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity” and urged Pristina to establish the Association of Serb Major communities.

What is expected next?

NATO is sending additional forces to Kosovo following Monday's clashes, according to a statement Tuesday. Violence in Kosovo comes at an uncertain political moment in Belgrade. Serbia was shocked earlier this month after two massive shootings killed dozens of people, mainly children.

But what began as candlelighting for those killed erupted in protests against the Vucic government and “the culture of violence” over which it has dominated.

I've never seen (Vucci) so nervous” said Bosko Jaksic, a foreign policy commentator in Belgrade, adding: “His crisis management is not working. ”

However, the Kosovo crisis could provide Vucic, who has often used Serbian nationalism as a call for his supporters, a welcome relief.

As the streets of Belgrade have recently been flooded by those protesting Serbia's “violence culture”, nationalist demonstrators took to the streets Tuesday to protest outside French and German embassies, while Vucic supporters turned their anger at the European promoters of Kosovo's independence.

In Tuesday's comments, Vucic sparked fears that violence in Kosovo could pose a threat to ethnic Serbs in the region, saying Serbia has “concerns about the survival and security of Serbs in Kosovo”.

Kosovo is helping it”, Jaksic said. “He is building his patriotic statue in Kosovo. He is a major defender of the Serbian issue. He is the savior of the Serbian people... All that rhetoric we've heard a few times before is being used again. And there are a lot of people who are trusting that”.