Several thousand people gathered in central Kosovska Mitrovica on Tuesday to protest Pristina’s decision to raise customs duties on imports from Serbia and arrest local Serbs allegedly involved in the killing of political leader Oliver Ivanovic.

The peaceful protest was organized to express opposition to the decisions by the Kosovo government which Serb leaders said jeopardize their survival.

Outgoing Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic told the crowd that he and the mayors of three other Serb-majority municipalities had resigned in protest and read a declaration breaking off communications and cooperation with institutions in Pristina.

The protest was held in front of the European Union offices in central Mitrovica.

The crowd carried Serbian flags and banners saying Peace Not War, Stop Pristina’s Violence and EU Open Your Eyes with patriotic music in the background.