The Kosovo Police announced that shooting was heard at several locations in the north of Kosovo and that some of the shots were aimed at police units, but that there were no injuries.
"Citizens also provided information that there are cases of Albanians being stopped, who were mistreated, were injured and caused material damage to vehicles by persons suspected of being part of road blocking organizations," the statement says, as reported N1.
Previously, the Kosovo Police (PK) announced that so far there is no official information about injured citizens or police officers, therefore they call and appeal to the media and citizens not to fall for false information and news that tend to destabilize the situation and create panic.
In a press release, PK emphasizes that it continues to engage with police units, in providing security for all citizens without distinction, in the interest of maintaining order and public safety.
The Kosovo police closed the crossing for passenger traffic and for vehicles at the Brnjak and Jarinje crossings, due to the blocking of roads in the direction of the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings.
The police urge citizens to use other crossings for traffic.
Today around 18:XNUMX in the northern part of Mitrovica in Kosovo, sirens sounded.
Radio Free Europe (RSE) transfers that local Serbs in the north of Kosovo blocked the main road with trucks near the border crossing Jarinje, in the municipality of Leposavic. That media also reported that, according to information from the field, the main road Pristina-Raška was blocked in the town of Rudare near Zvečani. The village of Rudare is located five kilometers from Mitrovica.
According to information from the field, RSE adds, travelers to Jarinje are advised to return to Serbia, and people with masks were seen on the roads in the north of Kosovo. The road near Bošnjacka Mahala in North Mitrovica was also blocked.
The deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, Besim Hoti, said earlier that Kossev that there was a roadblock in Zubin Potok near Varag and in Rudar, because a false news was allegedly spread that the municipality would be blocked by special units.
He said that this is absolutely not true, nor that there is such an intention, and appealed to the citizens to remain calm.
Hoti also told RSE that a blockade had been set up in the village of Zupče, which is located near the Brnjak-Mitrovica main road.
"It is known that Serbs always gathered at the sound of sirens because it always meant a response to some danger. It was sudden, but somehow it was expected. We gathered as a sign of protest against the decisions of the Kurti government for ID cards and license plates," one of the demonstrators near Rudar in the municipality of Zvečan told RSE.
Regarding the activated sirens, KFOR told Kossev that they are monitoring the situation and gathering information.
Ministry of Defense of Serbia: The army did not enter the territory of Kosovo
The Ministry of Defense of Serbia announced that the Serbian Army had not crossed the administrative line and had not entered the territory of Kosovo in any way, reports N1.
"Due to the large amount of misinformation that the Pristina administration deliberately puts on the air and that is spread through fake accounts on social networks and certain websites, and in which it is stated that there were allegedly some conflicts between the Serbian Army and the so-called Kosovo police, the Ministry of Defense announces that the Army For now, Serbia has not crossed the administrative line and has not in any way entered the territory of Kosovo and Metohija," the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Serbia states.
Chief of Cabinet Vjose Osmani: Barricades erected on the order of Vučić
The head of the Cabinet of the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, Bljerim Velja, assessed that the barricades in the north of Kosovo were erected by local Serbs on the order of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić.
"On the direct order of Vučić, the illegal structures of Serbia in Kosovo set up barricades on several roads in the north. This is an obvious attempt to undermine the rule of law in Kosovo. Vučić bears full responsibility for any escalation of the situation on the ground. He will fail," Velja said.
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Decisions on Serbian plates and documents
The blockades come a day before the entry into force of two decisions of the Government of Kosovo on Serbian license plates and documents.
The government announced that on August 1, it will start issuing so-called entry-exit documents for all citizens of Serbia entering Kosovo.
This document will be issued at all land and air crossings and will be valid for 90 days, as well as the document that the Serbian authorities issue to citizens of Kosovo when they enter Serbia.
This document will also be given to persons under the age of 16 who do not have an identification document, but must have a birth certificate.
"We will not take documents from people coming from Serbia to Kosovo, we will add a declaration to them. So, they come with documents issued by Serbia, we don't take them, but we issue them a declaration, because for 11 years Serbia has treated every citizen of our Republic the same way when they cross the border and go to Serbia. So, starting tomorrow, they will have another document," said Prime Minister of Kosovo Aljbin Kurti on July 31, RSE reminds.
Also, on Monday, the decision on the re-registration of cars with the acronyms of the cities of Kosovo, issued by Serbia, should come into force.
It is estimated that 10.000 cars with license plates such as KM (Kosovska Mitrovica), PZ (Prizren), UR (Uroševac), etc. circulates in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by the majority Serbian population.
According to the decision made by the Government of Kosovo on June 29, the deadline for car re-registration will last until September 30.
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