The Kosovo government delayed the enforcement of documents issued by Serbian authorities until September 1, 2022. The plan includes replacing passports and license plates for Serb residents in Kosovo. It is expected that holders will receive a temporary entry certificate.
The Kosovo government announced a delay to the implementation of the decision from Monday, August 1, 2022, to September 1, 2022, when barricades in northern Kosovo are expected to be removed and freedom of movement restored. The statement noted appreciation for international partners, especially the United States ambassador, for their involvement and support, as reported by Russian news agency TASS with reference to Kosovo authorities.
Officials indicated that the postponement followed talks between President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti with international partners. The discussions also condemned the blockade of highways in northern Kosovo and gunfire directed at police by local gunmen. Pristina plans to establish another equivalence measure in its dealings with Belgrade by canceling Serbian documents in territories under Kosovo control. Beginning August 1, Serbian citizens living in Kosovo would be required to present a temporary ID during visits to the unrecognized republic. The certificate would be valid for 90 days and could be used at government institutions, and Serbs would also need to obtain Kosovo plates when entering the republic.
The July 31 decision by Kosovo authorities provoked strong reactions in Serbia. Serbian communities erected barricades in Rudar and Zupcha, obstructing Albanian security forces. An air raid siren sounded in Kosovska Mitrovica, and gunfire was reported along the border with the unrecognized republic. Serbia began moving troops and aircraft to the Kosovo border, and President Aleksandar Vucic criticized Pristina for planning an unreasonable attack on Serbs.
NATO Prepared to Intervene
On the night of August 1, amid rising tensions between Belgrade and Pristina, NATO-led KFOR indicated readiness to intervene if stability in northern Kosovo was threatened. A KFOR statement affirmed that the mission is monitoring the situation closely and stands prepared to respond to threats to regional stability.
KFOR also noted that the overall security situation in Kosovo’s northern municipalities remains tense and called on all parties to engage in dialogue to restore peaceful stability in the region.
Balkan Traditions
On the evening of July 31, gunfire was heard at the Kosovo–Serbia border, and an air raid warning was issued in Kosovska Mitrovica. Local media reported that the base of the self-proclaimed Kosovo border police near the town of Yarine had several rapid reaction units deployed with gear appropriate for active deployments. The Kosovo police were said to have closed the Brnjak gate to Serbia.
Serbia’s president stated that the Kosovo army planned to attack the country at midnight. Reports indicated Albanian police had moved toward Yarinya and Brnjak. Later, Belgrade disputed these accounts, while Kosovo police advised officers that shots had been fired but that casualties were not reported. President Vucic addressed the nation and appealed for international influence to calm tensions and achieve a peaceful outcome.
In his nationwide address, Vucic urged international representatives to contribute to stabilizing the situation and expressed hope for positive developments soon. The aim was to maintain peace across the contested border region.
Calls to End Provocations
Spokespersons from the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow urged Kosovo, the United States, and the European Union to stop provocations and to respect the rights of Serbs in Kosovo. They argued that the European Union mediation mission failed in light of Pristina’s decision to enforce rules on forced document exchanges and warned about broader consequences for Belgrade’s citizens’ rights. The remarks suggested that the situation could influence Belgrade’s standing within the European Union and stressed the need to avoid measures worsening the rights of Serbs. The Russian position also highlighted the desire for international actors to encourage restraint and a constructive approach to dialogue.
President Vucic later thanked the Russian authorities for their support as the crisis developed, emphasizing the goal of restoring calm and fostering dialogue to prevent further clashes.