Serbian truckers block two crossings into Kosovo

Truckers blocked the Raska – Kosovska Mitrovica road after waiting at the Jarinje crossing for days following a decision by the government in Pristina to stop all imports from Serbia because of rioting and protests in the northern mainly-Serb municipalities. The truckers are letting buses and cars through but not trucks with Kosovo license plates.

Truckers and local residents also blocked the road from Prokuplje in central Serbia to the Merdare crossing, the state TV (RTS) reported. The pro-government Tanjug agency said that trucks with Kosovo license plates are also being blocked from entering central Serbia. The agency quoted local people who said they were blocking the road as a show of support for the Kosovo Serbs.

The Kosovo Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that buses and cars from Kosovo are not being allowed across the Jarinje and Merdare crossings. It warned that “passenger cars are not safe at present” and added that Kosovo residents in Serbia should use alternative crossings or travel through North Macedonia.