Gas stations in northern Kosovo closed

(Patria) - The Kosovo Privatization Agency announced that three gas stations in North Mitrovica and Zubin Potok have been closed because the lessees operated without permits.

It is emphasized that these gas stations are under the control of the Agency and that they must have a license from the Kosovo Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade.

"Failure to obtain a license constitutes a breach of the lease agreement with the Privatization Agency and the Law on Trade in Petroleum Derivatives, thereby endangering consumer and environmental safety," the Agency stated, noting that lease agreements will be terminated.

The Kosovo Police confirmed to Radio Free Europe that they only assisted the Agency because the gas stations are its property. These gas stations had the logo of the Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS).

However, according to RSE's findings, they have been owned by businessmen from northern Kosovo for several years.

The opening of the NIS gas station in North Mitrovica in 2016 was attended by the then director of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Marko Đurić, despite the opposition of the Kosovo authorities.

Kosovo then sent a protest note to the European Union and all international institutions.

Official Pristina considered NIS's operations in northern Kosovo illegal and characterized them as an attempt at Russian influence in Kosovo and beyond.

NIS is majority-owned by Russian Gazpromneft and its parent company Gazprom.