Over the past two days, five vehicles owned by Kosovo Serbs were set ablaze after they altered their license plates from the Republic of Serbia to those of the Republic of Kosovo (RKS). The incident was reported by Albanian news agency Telegram.
At around 4:00 a.m. local time in Leposavić, three cars burned, followed by two more on March 30. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani declared that Serbian structures in northern Kosovo were responsible for the arson and named Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as the orchestrator of the operation, signaling a high-stakes confrontation between communities. These accusations were made in the wake of ongoing tensions in the region, with authorities urging restraint. (Telegram)
Since late July 2022, protests and clashes have persisted in Kosovo involving Serbian communities and Albanian authorities, sparked by Kosovo’s move to align vehicle registration with its institutions, a step that affected cars bearing Serbian-issued plates previously recognized by Kosovo authorities. (Telegram)
Official figures indicate roughly ten thousand vehicles carried these Serbian plates, though only a small number of drivers in Pristina have engaged with authorities. By this point, at least seven arson incidents had been linked to vehicles transitioning to Kosovo’s number system, underscoring a volatile environment. (Telegram)
From November 1, 2022, vehicles carrying Serbian plates registered in Kosovo were deemed illegal within the partially recognized republic. A significant portion of the Serb population chose not to re-register within the grace period, forcing many to decide between keeping their cars in Serbia, re-registering in central Serbia, or registering in Kosovo—a move tied to recognizing Kosovo’s authority. The Kosovo government’s decision to enforce these rules led to barricades and acts of defiance by some Serbs in Kosovo. (Telegram)
On March 18, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Ohrid, North Macedonia, under EU mediation. After a twelve-hour negotiation, the parties agreed on steps to normalize relations and reduce the current friction. (Telegram)