Kosovo was raised under informal sanctions by the US because of the behavior of Albin Kurti’s government in the matter of installing the newly elected mayors in the municipalities where the Serb population is a majority.

The US ambassador to Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier, at a press conference strongly criticized Pristina’s decision to forcefully impose the result of the April 23 municipal elections. He announced that the participation of Kosovo is cancelled in the “Defender Europe 2023” inter-branch military exercise, while declaring that “the US no longer has enthusiasm” to advance Kosovo’s request for recognition of independence. He also said that all planned visits by Kosovar officials to the US had been cancelled. The head of the US diplomatic mission in Kosovo pointed out that the escalation of tension in the north of Kosovo caused by Pristina is undermining the process for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Jeffrey Hovenier stated that Kurti did not listen to US recommendations in the handling of the issue of mayors and it worked of its own accord.

It is worth noting that this is the first time that the US has “turned its back” on Kosovo, and according to general estimates, this will cause strong reactions against the Kurti government at home.

It is noted that last Friday, May 26, the Kosovo police intervened in four cities in the north to break up gatherings of the Serbian population that prevented the newly elected Albanian mayors from taking office. These mayors were elected in the extraordinary municipal elections held on April 23 without the participation of the Serbs. Voter turnout did not exceed 3.5% and the Serbian community in northern Kosovo considers the result invalid.

The reactions of the Serbs culminated in the clashes that took place yesterday in the town of Zvečan with soldiers of the international peacekeeping force KFOR, where 30 NATO soldiers and 52 demonstrators were injured.

However, Albin Kurti insists on his position with his statement. “Newly elected mayors are the only ones who are legally allowed to be in these municipal buildings and they have our full, unreserved support. “Democracy cannot be suspended or taken hostage,” he argued.