Chair of the Association of Businessmen in northern Kosovo Rados Petrovic has confirmed that as of Monday, July 1 shops in the north of Kosovo including kiosks and bakeries will be closed, B92 reports.

He added this was decided in a meeting of businessmen due to imposed tariffs on goods from central Serbia that Pristina institutions imposed seven months ago. On Thursday Petrovic also urged the international community “to stop Pristina,” saying the tariffs brought inhabitants of the northern Kosovo on a verge of the humanitarian disaster.

As a sign of solidarity with shops’ owners, restaurants and petrol stations will also be closed. It is not known yet how long they would remain closed. B92 said shelves in some shops in the north selling bread, milk, wheat, sugar, oil and salt were empty.

The news agency also quoted a pharmacy worker in Mitrovica North who said people are buying medicaments increasingly, including antibiotics, medicaments for chronic diseases but also antidepressants.