Several media outlets in Kosovo have misinformed the public by claiming that Kosovo Serbs plan to set up barricades in the north. These reports followed announcements from Serbia that on September 6, blockades would be placed near border crossings with Kosovo, on the Serbian side.
On September 3, 2024, the portal Infoshqip.com published an article titled: "Tensions in northern Kosovo, Serbs warn of setting up barricades." While the headline suggests rising tensions in the north, the article also claims that Serbs in northern Kosovo will reintroduce barricades this weekend.
The same article was also shared by Joq – Albania, Fakte Press, Kape Lajmin.
Photo Source: Joq – Albania
None of these news outlets clarified in their headlines that the blockades were announced to be set up at the border crossings. The articles were accompanied by images of trucks used by Serbs to place barricades years ago in the north, blocking roads leading to the border crossings at Jarinje and Bërnjak, as well as photos of Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vucic.
The news about blockades near the border with Kosovo was reported by Serbian media outlets.
The so-called President of the Association of Citizens of the Kosovo District in Mitrovica, Rasha Rojeviq announced that starting from September 6, all "administrative crossings in Kosovo" will be blocked. According to her, the blockades will take place near the border crossings at Bërnjak, Jarinje, Merdare, and Konçul.
"The blockade will begin on Friday and will last until Kosovo police forces withdraw from northern Kosovo and M, and the seized institutions are returned to the Serbs. We also demand that KFOR, in line with its mandate under Resolution 1244, takes control of northern Kosovo," Rojevic stated.
She also commented on the possibility of Kosovo Serbs participating in the barricades. "Serbs living in Kosovo will not take part in the barricades to avoid being targeted by the Kosovo police. Only citizens from central Serbia, Montenegro, and Republika Srpska will participate," she added.
In June 2023, crossing was also blocked on Serbian territory near the border points of Jarinje and Merdare due to a blockade. Serbian media reported that truck drivers with Serbian plates had decided to block the Kosovo-Mitrovica-Raska road.
"They are blocking the road due to the government in Pristina's restriction on goods coming from Serbia. Around 30 truck drivers from Kursumlija blocked the main Nis-Pristina road in the village of Rudare," was reported at the time.
The last barricades within Kosovo's territory were set up in September 2021, after the government implemented reciprocity measures with Serbia regarding vehicle license plates.
*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”
