Merdarja Brnjak closed, Jarinje blocked for citizens with Kosovo documents

The two border crossings between Kosovo and Serbia, Brnjak and Merdar, have been closed last night for circulation. Meanwhile, the border checkpoint in Jarinje continues to be blocked for citizens with documents from the Republic of Kosovo.

First closed the crossing in Brnjak. Interior Affairs Minister Xhelal Svecla said groups of extremists disguised in the presence of Serbia's police, within Serbia's territory, have banned cars and legitimised travellers.

He suggested that a Kosovo family traveling to Germany has been forced back.

This is happening before the eyes of Serbia's police, a fact that makes him together guilty. These fascist acts where Serbs are allowed despite documentation they possess, while Albanians stumble despite the documentation they possess are absolutely unacceptable to us. Therefore, until the normal, nonchalant and secure circulation of all travelers, the border checkpoint in Brnjak closes for circulation”, Svecla wrote, Express reports.

After midnight, he announced that the border crossing at Merdare was closed.

After the same actions of Serb masked extremists within Serbia's territory, which are selectively and with fascist access to citizens who want to cross transit through Serbia, and all that in front of the eyes of Serbia's authorities also closes the border checkpoint in Merdara. In defense of life and for the safety of all our citizens, even this point like that in Brnjak will be closed until the ban on such selective and fascist actions and full normalisation of the situation”, Svecla wrote.

Chief diplomat Donika Grovalla reacted after Brnjak's closure, where she said this point would remain closed until masked persons leave and free movement return.

At the border checkpoint in Brnjak, within Serbia's territory, masked persons are also stopping cars with German registration, and after the findings they are Albanians are not letting them pass. The Serbian police vehicle only looks at and does not intervene to ensure the free movement of citizens, thus becoming an accomplice of this racist and fascist selection, which brings dark times to mind and as such cannot be tolerated. The border checkpoint in Brnjak closes until disguises are removed and the free movement” returns, Gervala wrote.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on citizens and exiles travelling towards Kosovo or from Kosovo to other states to take careful measures and use other border points.

By contrast, representatives from several Serbian associations have blocked roads near three border points with Kosovo on Serbia's territory. Small groups of people gathered in the afternoon of September 6th at the Merdare, Jarina and Brnjak border crossings, where trucks and Kosovo documents were stopped. Blocking roads took place after the closure of five Serb parallel institutions in the country's north by Kosovo authorities.