Kosovo police have closed down a suspected tax office functioning as a branch of the Serbian Ministry of Finance, Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla announced on January 8.

The closure was the latest in a series of actions targeting institutions operating under the Serbian system. Kosovo has repeatedly condemned Serbia's efforts to undermine its institutions, with such parallel structures operating in various parts of the country, particularly in the north, which is mainly populated by ethnic Serbs. 

Svecla condemned the actions of the Serbian parallel institution, which he claims had been unlawfully collecting financial contributions from citizens and entities within Kosovo.

Meanwhile Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic accused his Kosovan counterpart Albin Kurti of carrying out a “relentless campaign” against northern Kosovo’s Serb population. 

The police began their operation at approximately 9 a.m., after receiving intelligence about the illegal institution. During the search, authorities discovered evidence that confirmed their suspicions.

The operation also led to the closure of an office of an insurance company working under the same framework, Koha.net reported on January 8.

Veton Elshani, deputy director of the Kosovo police for the northern region, said: “We entered this building, which had been operating as a tax office, and found evidence supporting our suspicions. After consulting with the prosecutor, the individuals present left the premises, and the building was sealed off for further investigation.”

The investigation is focused on potential charges of document forgery, although no arrests have been made so far. Elshani said that the case remains under scrutiny by Kosovo’s authorities.

"The illegal activity of the Serbian Tax Agency will be investigated by all our institutional mechanisms, while we will continue to fight any criminal parallelism of Serbia vis-à-vis our institutions."

"This institution has illegally collected financial resources from citizens and entities living and operating in Kosovo. Extortion is punishable and strictly prohibited for anyone who engages in it," Svecla wrote on Facebook.

This incident adds to the growing tension between Kosovo and Serbia, as both nations continue to navigate the complex and sensitive issue of Kosovo's sovereignty.

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has condemned the closure of the Tax Administration branch in North Mitrovica, accusing Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti of continuing his "terror" against the Serbian population in Kosovo.

Vucevic said that Kurti's actions, including the latest move, will not break the resolve of the Serbian people in the region, Serbian broadcaster RTS reported.

"In his relentless campaign against the Serbian community, Kurti’s previous actions have already made life in Kosovo and Metohija unbearable for Serbs. Yet, even this latest provocation, occurring on the second day of Christmas, shows his ongoing attempts to escalate tensions," Vucevic said.

He stressed that despite these efforts, Kurti’s actions will not succeed in forcing the Serbs to give up.