On the second day of the protest in the north of Kosovo, a sense of tranquility prevailed among the demonstrators. However, some incidents against journalists and media vehicles occurred. In response to the escalating situation, NATO has decided to reinforce its presence in Kosovo by deploying additional forces.

NATO announced on Tuesday that it has deployed additional forces to its Kosovo Force in response to recent unrest and the injury of 30 of its members.

According to a NATO statement, an additional multi-national battalion of reserve forces has been ordered to remain ready in the following seven days, in order to be ready to reinforce KFOR if necessary.

“The deployment of additional NATO forces to Kosovo is a prudent measure to ensure that KFOR has the capabilities it needs to maintain security in accordance with our UN Security Council Mandate,” said Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

Attacks on journalists

On Tuesday as well, attacks on journalists by Serbian protesters were reported. This was seen on KOHA’s footage when during the live broadcast, the protesters started throwing hard objects.

During the night, vehicles belonging to local media Koha.net and Television 7 were demolished.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo, AJK, has reacted after the Kanal 10 TV team’s vehicles were damaged during reporting in Zveçan.

According to AJK, journalists are not being offered direct protection by KFOR, and there is no other international presence in that part of the country.

Meanwhile, Radio Free Europe has learned from diplomatic sources that the EU’s special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, is making efforts to organize an ad hoc meeting between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia.

The meeting between Kosovo PM Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is being attempted to be organized in Bratislava, Slovakia.

On Tuesday, protests continued in the northern municipalities of Kosovo.

So far, the situation is calm, and dozens of protesters are seen in Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok in front of the municipal buildings, unlike yesterday when the situation was tense.

The leader of the Serbian List, Goran Rakic, is staying in Zvecan together with the protesters.

What happened on Monday?

On Monday, dozens of protesters and NATO peacekeepers were injured in northern Kosovo as local Serbs protested against the installment of a Kosovo Albanian mayor.

30 troops of KFOR got wounded, 11 soldiers from the Italian contingent and 19 from the Hungarian contingent.

Serbian media reported that more than 53 people suffering from different types of injuries, from shock bombs and tear gas, have been treated at North Mitrovica hospital. The hospital director, Zlatan Elek, told regional broadcaster N1 that three of them are still hospitalised, including one with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Kosovo Police confirmed that five protesters have been arrested for the attacks against KFOR troops, and the damages caused to many military, police, and media outlet’s vehicles.

KFOR has strongly condemned the unprovoked attack against the troops of the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Zveçan.

The Commander of the KFOR Mission, Division General Angelo Michele Ristucciastressed that the unprovoked attacks on NATO units are unacceptable and KFOR will continue to fulfill its mandate impartially.

“Promptly treated by KFOR medical units, they [troops] are currently under observation by medical personnel who are assessing their condition,” written in the KFOR statement.

Representative for Foreign Affairs of the EU, Josep Borrell, has condemned the violence in Zvecan in the strongest possible terms. According to him, violent acts against KFOR troops, media, civilians, and the police are unacceptable.

“We expect the parties to act responsibly and find a political solution through the Dialogue immediately,” he wrote on Twitter.

The Ambassador of the EU in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog on Monday has stated that the EU strongly condemns the violent actions of protesters today in Zveçan against KFOR troops.

“We repeat our call for the immediate cessation of violence and the reduction of tensions,” Szunyog wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Many official cars of the Special Units of Kosovo, KFOR and the media have been damaged with nationalist graffiti, broken windows, punctured tires and one car was burned.

The European Federation of Journalists has called on the authorities in Kosovo to protect journalists and ensure that they can report safely.

The protests started on Friday, the first day of work for the newly elected mayors, when dozens of citizens and policemen were injured.

The US embassy, EU and QUINT countries criticized the Kosovo authorities for using force to get the disputed mayors into their municipal buildings.

Serbian media reported that more than 53 people suffering from different types of injuries, from shock bombs and tear gas, have been treated at North Mitrovica hospital. The hospital director, Zlatan Elek, told regional broadcaster N1 that three of them are still hospitalised, including one with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

In this link you can read all the news about the developments of the Monday protests.