Two border officers from Kosovo were fired by the Pristina government for using Kosovo vehicle plates instead of those issued by Serbia.
Serbian media reported 300 resignations in Mitrovica’s north town. These resignations are part of a wider movement by Serbs to abandon state institutions like courts, police, and parliament.
At noon, thousands of Serbs protested against mandatory Kosovo license plates in North Mitrovica. They waved Serbian flags and the Serbian national anthem was performed.
The ongoing row about license plates has caused tension between the former Kosovo province and Serbian. Kosovo was granted independence in 2008. It is home to a Serb minority that is supported and supported by Belgrade.
In a statement, the Kosovo police said that it was aware that some Serb officers had left their posts and that some of them had given up equipment.
Albin Kurti is the prime minister of Kosovo and he blames Belgrade for trying to destabilize Kosovo by supporting the boycott of state institutions by Serbs.
He stated that he had once again invited all Serb citizens into our country to not abandon institutions, not to resign, and to stay their jobs as there would be less service for the people.
The government of Kosovo stated that it would begin to issue fines for Serb drivers who use preindependence plates. It will also seize vehicles whose registration numbers are not changed by 21 April 2023.
“The withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs or their institutions cannot solve the current dispute. It could increase tensions on the ground,” Josep Borrell (EU’s chief foreign policy officer) said Saturday (5 November).
One-fifth, or 50,000, of the 50,000 Serbs who live in the Serb majority North consider Serbia their home. They use Serbian license plates. Another 50,000 Serbs who live in Kosovo areas populated with Albanians have used Kosovo license plates.
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