Police are guarding municipal buildings in the north, view from there

Radio Free Europe journalists report that near the Leposaviqi municipality building Zvecan and Zubin Potok, there is the presence of the Kosovo Police. Also, there are policemen inside the buildings.

In front of the Leposavic municipality building, three police cars have been deployed with about 20 members of Kosovo Police Special Units.

In the vicinity of the municipality building, observers have also been spotted removing sand thrown in front of the Communist building the day before.

The situation in this municipality is reportedly calm and the situation has returned to normal, as gastronomic shops and establishments are opened.

On 26 May, Kosovo Police assisted the three young Albanian mayors of Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviqi into municipal buildings. These buildings, in advance, were used by Serb parallel institutions.

The move was rejected by groups of local Serbs who clashed with police. Security authorities used shock bombs and tear gas, meanwhile, local Serbs threw stones in their direction.

Several police cars were burned down, while at least five policemen were injured.

The international factor named it going to municipalities in the north of new mayors as “forced intervention”, condemning Pristina's actions.

But Kosovo authorities blamed Serbia and “illegal structures and criminal gangs” for the situation created, while saying Kosovo police were carrying out their duties.

The United States warned that such actions would result in “with consequences” in bilateral reports with Kosovo.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Kosovo's actions escalated <x0-tensions, undermining efforts to help normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia”.

“We call on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to change the course in all directions and refrain from other actions that could increase tensions and promote violence”, Blinken said.

The actions of Kosovo institutions also condemned the European Union, which brokers dialogue for normalising reports between Kosovo and Serbia.

Brussels said it would not accept any further and unilateral, provocative “action.

“We condemn Kosovo's decision to force entry into municipal buildings in northern Kosovo, despite our call for content”, was said in the EU response.

QUINT States ( The United Kingdom, France and Italy also reacted, calling for sudden reduction in tensions.

“We condemn Kosovo's decision to forcibly make entry into municipal buildings in northern Kosovo, despite our call for anti-x1>, QUINT said.

Mission NATO in Kosovo, KFOR, dubbed the dangerous “ ” the situation created in the north, meanwhile, called on institutions in Kosovo to stress the “immediately” situation.

Despite condemnation by the international factor, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti defended the decision for new mayors to enter municipal buildings.

A day after the clashes in the north, Kurti said he understands the concerns of international partners.

“We are aware and understand the concerns raised by our international partners. But, any other option, would be to fail to fulfill the constitutional obligations of our government to the new heads, would be non-fulfillment of the obligations and obligations of new mayors to the citizens of the Republic, and could not afford the delivery of municipal basic services to citizens”, Kurti wrote on Facebook.