Kosovo has taken the decision to close two of its four border crossings with Serbia amidst escalating tensions between the two Balkan nations. The closures, which came into effect overnight from Friday to Saturday, are a direct response to Serbian protesters blocking roads and turning away passengers with Kosovo documents.

The affected border crossings, Brnjak and Merdare, are both situated in Kosovo's northern region, where a majority ethnic Serb population resides. The Kosovar Interior Minister, Xhelal Svecla, cited the actions of "masked extremist groups in Serbia," accusing them of selectively targeting travelers while the Serbian authorities turned a blind eye.

Meanwhile, at least two other border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo remain operational. However, on Friday, dozens of demonstrators in Serbia staged blockades to halt traffic entering Serbia from Kosovo. Their protest stems from the closure of parallel administrations by ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, aimed at challenging the official ones.

It is important to note that the Serbian government in Belgrade has never recognized Kosovo's independence, considering it a former southern province. As a result, Belgrade finances a separate health, education, and social security system within Kosovo to support the ethnic Serb population.

The Serbian demonstrators have stated that their blockade will continue until Kosovo police are withdrawn from northern Kosovo and the Serbian authorities regain control over the "usurped institutions," while demanding that the NATO-led peacekeeping force (KFOR) assume control in the region.

These tensions were further fueled after police in northern Kosovo recently raided and closed several administrative offices linked to the Belgrade government. In response, Kosovo's Foreign Minister, Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, condemned the Serbian protests, alleging that Belgrade is intentionally provoking and destabilizing their southern neighbor.

The strained relationship between Serbia and Kosovo dates back to the 1990s when a war erupted between Serbian armed forces and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian secessionists. Despite Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, Serbia has consistently refused to acknowledge this move, encouraging ethnic Serbs in Kosovo to remain loyal to Belgrade.

Earlier this year, tensions escalated further as Kosovo made the euro its sole legal currency, effectively outlawing the use of the Serbian dinar. This move exacerbated existing animosity and deep-rooted divisions between the two nations.

As the situation unfolds, with closed borders and ongoing protests, efforts to find a resolution and ease tensions between Serbia and Kosovo remain a pressing concern for regional stability.