A new controversy between Pristina and Belgrade is caused by the decision of Kosovo not to set up ballot boxes for the upcoming Serbian presidential and parliamentary elections in its territory.

Thus, Kosovo Serbs who want to exercise their right to vote will have to cross the border and vote in one of the four cities near the border where there will be polls for them.

In the divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo Serbs took to the streets in recent weeks to claim their right to vote in Serbian elections in their place of residence. It is mostly Serbs who live north of the city and Albanians in the south.

“It simply came to our notice then. Who do you mean? You know who I mean. Those who are bothered by us. We are a nuisance to them, we are a nuisance to the whole world,” said a citizen in northern Mitrovica.

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, says Belgrade has never asked for permission to hold elections and that he must support his country’s sovereignty. Serbia, on the other hand, does not recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty, which declared itself independent in 2008.

A similar decision was made by the Kosovo parliament in the January 15th referendum on constitutional changes. Even then, Kosovo Serbs had to move to vote.

Source: Euronews

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