Kosovan Inside Minister Xhelal Svecla on Tuesday stated Serbia, beneath the affect of Russia, was aiming to destabilise Kosovo by supporting the Serb minority within the north who’ve been blocking roads and protesting for nearly three weeks.

Serbs within the ethnically divided metropolis of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo erected new barricades on Tuesday, hours after Serbia stated it had put its military on the best fight alert following weeks of escalating tensions between Belgrade and Pristina.

“It’s exactly Serbia, influenced by Russia, that has raised a state of navy readiness and that’s ordering the erection of recent barricades, with a view to justify and defend the legal teams that terrorize… residents of Serb ethnicity dwelling in Kosovo,” Svecla stated in a press release.

Additionally Learn | Kosovo tensions: Serbian troops on ‘highest’ alert over current shootings

Serbia denies it’s making an attempt to destabilise its neighbour and says it simply desires to guard its minority there. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated on Tuesday, Serbia would “proceed to combat for peace and search compromise options.”

Belgrade had stated late on Monday that in mild of the newest occasions within the area and its perception that Kosovo was getting ready to assault Serbs and forcefully take away the barricades, it had ordered its military and police to be placed on the best alert.

Since Dec. 10, Serbs in northern Kosovo have erected a number of roadblocks in and round Mitrovica and exchanged fireplace with police after the arrest of a former Serb policeman for allegedly assaulting serving cops.

Additionally Learn | Serbia nation bans visa-free entry to Indians from subsequent yr

Albanian-majority Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with the backing of the West, following a 1998-1999 warfare wherein NATO intervened to guard ethnic Albanian residents.

Kosovo shouldn’t be a member of the United Nations and 5 EU states – Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus – refuse to recognise Kosovo’s statehood.

Russia, Serbia’s historic ally, is obstructing Kosovo’s membership within the United Nations.

Round 50,000 Serbs reside within the northern a part of Kosovo and refuse to recognise the Pristina authorities or the state. They see Belgrade as their capital.

Kosovo’s authorities stated police had the capability and readiness to behave however have been ready for NATO’s KFOR Kosovo peace-keeping power to answer their request to take away the barricades.

Vucic stated talks with international diplomats have been ongoing on methods to resolve the scenario.

In Mitrovica on Tuesday morning vans have been parked to dam the street linking the Serb-majority a part of the city to the Albanian-majority half.

The Serbs are demanding the discharge of the arrested officer and produce other calls for earlier than they’ll take away the barricades.

Ethnic Serb mayors in northern Kosovan municipalities, together with native judges and a few 600 cops resigned final month in protest over a Kosovo authorities resolution to interchange Serbian-issued automotive license plates with ones issued by Pristina.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led European Union states to dedicate extra vitality to enhancing relations with the six Balkan nations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, regardless of persevering with reluctance to enlarge the EU additional.