Kosovo Serbs head to Serbia to vote; kilometre-long queues at Jarinje, Brnjak and Medare
Thousands of voters from Kosovo headed to Serbian towns designated by the electoral commission, facing waits over one hour and trips of more than 150 km.
Large numbers of Serbs who live in Kosovo set off this morning by car and bus toward Serbia in order to cast ballots in Serbia's early parliamentary elections. Long traffic queues developed at the administrative crossings Jarinje, Brnjak and Medare as many voters headed across the border.
Long waits and some crossing on foot
Border queues at several crossings stretched for kilometres, with waiting times exceeding one hour in many places; after long delays some people completed the final stretch on foot. The congestion affected both private vehicles and buses carrying groups of voters.
The Republic Electoral Commission of Serbia decided that voters from Kosovo and Metohija may vote in Vranje, Kuršumlija, Raška and Tutin. For some residents this arrangement requires journeys of more than 150 kilometres in one direction.
Belgrade's decision was taken after temporary Priština institutions refused to allow these citizens to vote at the locations where they live, effectively forcing them to travel to designated polling towns in Serbia.
Local authorities on both sides of the administrative line organised additional police and border staff to manage traffic, but the volume of cars and buses meant that delays persisted through the morning.
Photo: press material from the event
