Multimedia

Tensions Flare Up in Kosovo and Metohija

16:49 GMT, 30 May 2023
Recently, tensions escalated in the region after Kosovo authorities attempted to appoint ethnic Albanian mayors in the Serbian-populated north of the province following the April 23 local elections, boycotted by most ethnic Serb voters.
Sputnik
On Monday, hundreds of Kosovo Serbs went to local administration buildings demanding the withdrawal of Kosovar police and officials. Troops of the NATO-led KFOR mission, equipped with crowd dispersal devices, were deployed in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok.
At least 52 Serbs were injured during the clashes in Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said. Media reported that some 41 soldiers of the KFOR contingent also received injuries in Monday's clashes, with the mission itself confirming 25 injured.
Take a look at the tensions in Kosovo in Sputnik's gallery:
1 / 8

Serbs from Kosovo face riot police during a gathering to demand the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors outside the municipal building in Zvecan, northern Kosovo.

© AFP 2023
2 / 8

Kosovo riot police and KFOR (International Military Mission to Kosovo) military police secure entrance to the municipal building in Zvecan, northern Kosovo, following clashes with Serb protesters demanding the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors.

© AFP 2023
3 / 8

NATO soldiers stand guard in the town of Mitrovica as Serbs protest against the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors.

© AFP 2023 / Armend Nimani
4 / 8

Serbs from Kosovo gather to demand the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors outside the municipal building in Zvecan, northern Kosovo.

© AFP 2023
5 / 8

Kosovo riot police along with KFOR military police secure access to a municipal building in Zvecan as Kosovo Serbs gather outside the building after police helped install ethnic Albanian mayors following controversial elections. Police fired tear gas during clashes with ethnic Serbs protesting to demand the withdrawal of law enforcement officers from northern Kosovo along with new ethnic Albanian mayors.

© AFP 2023
6 / 8

Serbs from Kosovo face riot police during their gathering to demand the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors outside the municipal building in Zvecan, northern Kosovo.

© AFP 2023
7 / 8

In this grab taken from a video, a view of a car set on fire as KFOR soldiers clash with Kosovo Serbs in the town of Zvecan, northern Kosovo.

© AP Photo
8 / 8

Kosovo riot police along with KFOR military police secure access to a municipal building in Zvecan as Kosovo Serbs gather outside the building after police helped install ethnic Albanian mayors following elections.

© AFP 2023
MultimediaPhotoKosovoSerbia
Discuss