Authorities in Kosovo have closed five parallel institutions working with the ethnic Serb minority, a move that could further raise tensions with neighboring Serbia.

The closure comes amid rising tensions in Kosovo-Serbia relations, despite the 13-year-long normalization of talks facilitated by the European Union which have failed to progress.

Elbert Krasniqi, Kosovo’s minister of local administration, confirmed the closure of five so-called parallel institutions in the north that “violate the Republic of Kosovo’s constitution and laws.”

According to the Kosovo police, the operation was carried out based on the request of the Ministry of Administration and Local Government to stop ‘illegal activities’.