Kosovo Closes Five Serbian Municipal Offices

Kosovo authorities closed five parallel institutions serving the ethnic Serb minority in the north, a move that has drawn immediate criticism from the US, which expressed concern over uncoordinated actions impacting minority communities. Minister Elbert Krasniqi stated that these institutions violated Kosovo's constitution and laws, as they operated under directives from the Serbian government, which does not recognize Kosovo's independence. The closure follows a series of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, including a shootout in September 2023 that resulted in four deaths. The EU and US have urged both sides to implement earlier normalization agreements, but progress has stalled. In addition, Kosovo plans to reopen a bridge in Mitrovica, closed for over a decade due to ethnic tensions, which could further affect relations. Serbian officials have reacted angrily to the closures, asserting they will escalate tensions in the region.