Why is there another flare-up in tension in northern Kosovo?

There’s tension once again in northern Kosovo – this time after police used force to allow four ethnic Albanian mayors to take up office after winning local elections.

That vote was boycotted by most ethnic Serbs, who make up the majority of the region’s population.

There’s a geopolitical backdrop, too: Kosovo was once part of the former Yugoslavia.

Now, Russia backs Serbia and NATO supports Kosovo’s independence, along with a large contingent of international troops.

So, what’s behind this flare-up? And could it spread?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault

Guests: 

Dan Ilazi – Head of research at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies

Helena Ivanov – Associate research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society

Giorgio Fruscione – Research fellow, the Balkan desk of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies