Clash between Serbs and NATO peacekeepers in Northern Kosovo
On 26 May 2023, Kosovo Police forcefully took control of the municipal buildings of four Serb majority regions in Northern Kosovo after a local election was held. Three days later on 29 May 2023, hundreds of Serbian protesters clashed with NATO peacekeeping troops after rally at city hall in the town of Zvečan in Northern Kosovo.
Background.
Local elections.
On 23 April 2023, Kosovo held 2023 Kosovan local elections in four of its northern municipalities. The local election were initially planned to be in December 2022, but they were subsequently postponed. The four municipalities of Leposavić, North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok and Zvečan all have a Serb majority population. Among the election's declared candidates, only two of them were Serbs and the rest were Albanian. Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic called on ethnic Serbs in the regions to boycott the elections, saying that the Serbs of Northern Kosovo should no longer tolerate a "foreign occupation." All of the elected officials of the municipalities were Albanians.
Clashes.
On 26 May 2023, Kosovo Police took control of the municipal buildings in Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić by force after ethnic Serbs had refused to let the newly elected officials assume office. Protestors in Zvečan attempted to stop Kosovar police from escorting the mayor to the city hall leaving 10 protesters and 5 police officers injured. Multiple police cars were also destroyed. The Kosovar Police's use of force against the protesters was condemned by the United States and the EU. On 29 May 2023, hundreds of Serbian protesters rallied at the city hall in the town of Zvečan in Northern Kosovo. The protestors demanded the withdrawal of Kosovo police forces and for the resignation of ethnic Albanian officials who were elected to mayor's offices in April. The crowd of protesters then spread a huge Serbian flag outside the city hall. Nato peacekeeping soldiers responded by firing tear gas and stun grenades in order to protect Kosovar police officers and disperse protesters. The protesters then responded by throwing rocks, molotov cocktails and other objects at peacekeepers and police officers. Protesters then painted the Russian Z symbol on Kosovo police and NATO peacekeepers' vehicles. KFOR soldiers then moved in with riot shields and batons in another attempt to disperse the crowd. Protesters responded by hurling rocks, bottles and molotov cocktails at the soldiers.
Aftermath.
Casualties.
Per the Hungarian ministry of defense, 20 Hungarian soldiers were wounded with 7 in serious condition. Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani reported that 11 Italian soldiers were wounded with 3 in serious condition. The Italian ministry of defence reported that 14 Italian soldiers were wounded and that Moldovan soldiers were also wounded. On 5 June 2023, Nato reported that around 40 KFOR peacekeeping troops had been injured. On the one year anniversary of the clashes, Balkan Insight and KoSSev reported that 93 Nato soldiers had been wounded during the clashes. Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic claimed that over 50 Serbian protesters were injured in the clashes with 3 of them in serious condition. One of the protesters, a Kosovo Serb named Nenad Orllović, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for attacking KFOR soldiers. 5 other protesters were also arrested.
Novak Djokovic controversy.
After beating American tennis player Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the 2023 French Open on 30 May 2023, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic wrote: "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on a camera lens in Serbian. Referencing the clashes on the day piror. Djokovic's father grew up in Zvečan where the clashes on May 26 and May 29 took place. The Tennis Federation of Kosovo accused Novak Djokovic of "aggravating an already tense situation". Djokovic responded to this saying: "As a son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and to entire Serbia. My stance is clear: I am against wars, violence and any kind of conflict, as I've always stated publicly. I empathize with all people, but the situation with Kosovo is a precedent in international law". Jeton Hadergjonaj, the president of the Tennis Federation of Kosovo, responded to Djokovic's statement saying: "The comments made by Novak Djokovic at the end of his Roland Garros match against Aleksandar Kovacevic, his statements at the post-match press conference and his Instagram post are regrettable." He also accused Novak Djokovic of using his popularity to stir tensions. Djokovic then said in an interview on 31 May 2023 that he stands by his comment stating: "I would say it again, but I don't need to because you have my quotes if you want to reflect on that. Of course I'm aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is. It's something that I stand for. So that's all."
References.
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