As a response to the Kosovo government’s measure to prohibit the entry of Serbian goods into Kosovo, road blockades near the border points in Bernjake, Merdare, and Jarinje have resulted in the blocking of many trucks with RKS plates in the north.

On Monday, the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the passage of buses and trucks coming from Kosovo through these roads is not possible.

“The passage of vehicles is currently unsafe as well,” stated the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs, appealing to citizens who have already entered Serbia to use the border points in Mutivoda, Dheu i Bardhë, or travel through North Macedonia via Skopje.

For citizens who have not yet entered Serbia, the Ministry strongly advises against traveling through the country.

During the summer season, the Kosovar diaspora usually relies on these roads to come to Kosovo.

A BIRN team staying at the Jarinje border point, specifically in the Serbian territory on the main road to Rashka, reports that since last night, it has become impossible for trucks carrying products to pass through. These trucks have been blocked at this point for several days.

Until Monday, these trucks were only positioned on the side of the road, but since last night, some of them have also been blocked on the other side of the road. This has been done as a sign of protest against the ban on the entry of Serbian goods into Kosovo.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti described the halt of Serbian goods as a security measure rather than an economic or trade measure, one day after three border police officers from the Republic of Kosovo were kidnapped by the Serbian Police on June 14.

“For security reasons, as an immediate and necessary step, border controls with Serbia have been tightened, restricting traffic and increasing checks on vehicles coming from Serbia, especially transport vehicles,” said Kurti during a press conference on June 15.

The Kosovo Government claims that the police officers were abducted after being arrested within the territory of Kosovo. According to the Kosovo Police, the police officers were arrested in Tresave/Bare, located in Leposavic. Serbia, on the other hand, denies this, stating that they were arrested in its territory.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany have called for the immediate release of the three Kosovo police officers.

The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Kraljevo, central Serbia, has ordered an investigation into three detained Kosovo policemen suspected of illegal production, possession, carrying, and trafficking of weapons and explosive materials.

The judge for the preliminary proceedings at the Higher Court in Kraljevo has ordered the detention of all three suspects.

PM Kurti has stated that the “kidnapping” was an act of “revenge” for the arrest of Kosovo Serb Milun “Lune” Milenkovic in North Mitrovica one day earlier, on suspicion of orchestrating attacks against NATO peacekeepers at the end of May.

Tensions in the north have risen since May 27 when local Serbs started protesting against the elected Albanian mayors in the northern municipalities. The protests reached their peak on May 29 when Serbian protesters clashed with KFOR, resulting in approximately 30 soldiers and 50 protesters being injured. During these protests, many journalists and their vehicles were also attacked.