Albanian blockade of Russian troops in Rahovec, August 1999: the story of a post-war confrontation

Just over two months after the end of the war, hundreds of Kosovo Albanians organised blockades on the three main roads leading to Rahovec, in opposition to the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the area.

Residents used cars, trucks and tractors to obstruct traffic, while banners reading “No Russians” were also seen among the crowd.

The protest was prompted by Albanian claims that Russians had cooperated with Serbian paramilitary formations during the war in Kosovo. Rahovec was among the municipalities severely affected during that period.

Official Moscow denied the involvement of the Russian army, arguing that any individuals who may have acted alongside the Serbs were mercenaries rather than members of its forces.

Developments in Rahovec were being monitored by Dutch KFOR peacekeepers. From 12 June until August of that year, they were responsible for security in the town.

“I do not know exactly what is happening at this moment. What we know is that they have blocked several roads in the area. They have told us that they want to keep the Russians out. They have formed some kind of committee to organise the blockades. They came to speak with us last night,” Ton Van Loon, commander of NATO troops in Rahovec, told the AP news agency, KosovaPress reported.

But while Albanians kept the roads leading to the town blocked, the Russians set up a blockade of their own outside Rahovec. Russian tanks and soldiers were positioned on the road, preventing even humanitarian workers from passing.

Those stopped included an ADRA team, an organisation involved in rebuilding homes destroyed during the war. The team was left outside the town as it attempted to enter Rahovec.

“Yes, there is a blockade and our team consists of humanitarian workers. They have been stopped at this point and the situation appears somewhat dangerous and unnecessary,” said Poul Duahunty, ADRA’s operations director.

Humanitarian workers’ efforts to persuade the Russian soldiers to allow them to continue their journey were unsuccessful.

The footage from August 1999 remained evidence of one of the strongest displays of opposition to the Russian presence in Albanian-majority areas. The events in Rahovec showed that, even after the end of the war and the arrival of international forces, the presence of Moscow’s troops in the peacekeeping mission continued to provoke strong reactions.

Russian troops had arrived at Pristina Airport as early as 11 June. Their deployment there, without a prior agreement with NATO, had increased tensions between the two sides.

British General Michael Jackson, the first commander of KFOR, stated that World War III had almost begun at that point. According to him, it was avoided because he did not engage in a confrontation with the Russians, who had occupied the airport before NATO entered it.