Kurti: Removal of barricades cannot exclude casualties

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti warned that Russia was fueling tensions between Kosovo and Serbia due to the war in Ukraine faltering, and added that he was worried because, according to him, the removal of the barricades did not exclude casualties, the Guardian writes.

Kurti said he was concerned the tense situation could escalate "to the advantage of Russian President Putin, given that Russian and Serbian forces have conducted 104 joint military exercises in 2021."

The Kosovan leader added that he had agreed with KFOR that more time was needed to convince those at the barricades to withdraw, but that they could not be allowed to remain much longer.

He described the barricades as a step towards the division of Kosovo.

"Our worry is that removal of these barricades cannot exclude casualties. And that's why we want to be as careful as possible to make sure that there will be no destabilization and that relative peace and security will be in place. However, we cannot allow this violation of lawfulness and constitutionality forever. So, yes, this must end, the sooner the better," Kurti said.

He emphasized that the EU and the US agreed that the barricades should be removed.

"I think the concern of our Western partners and friends is the connection between Belgrade and Moscow. We do not know how they could be operational in case of rising tensions, towards escalation in the north. I think their major concern is exactly this. Now that Russia is severely wounded in Ukraine after its invasion and aggression, it has an interest in spillover. Russia has an interest in outsourcing its war-mongering drive to the Balkans, where they have a client in Belgrade," Kurti said.