A 28-year-old Serb, identified as M.D., originally from Babin Most and now residing in North Mitrovica, was arrested today near his home. His attorney, Nebojša Dančetović, confirmed the arrest, stating that M.D. has been remanded in custody for up to 48 hours following a hearing in Pristina. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija condemned the arrest, claiming it is part of a broader campaign aimed at forcing Serbs out of Kosovo.
According to Dančetović, M.D. is accused of participating in protests outside the Zvečan municipality in May of last year. The charges include four serious criminal offenses:
“Attacking the constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo,” “Endangering persons under international protection,” “Assault on an official,” and “Participation in a group committing acts of hooliganism.”
Kosovo police confirmed the arrest earlier today but provided no further details.
Kosovo Office Denounces Arrest as Part of Broader Campaign
The Office for Kosovo and Metohija, a Serbian government institution, criticized the arrest, calling it part of a continued campaign against Serbs in Kosovo.
In a statement, the office alleged that Pristina’s authorities have arbitrarily detained numerous Serbs under the pretext of suppressing political dissent.
“This arrest demonstrates the ongoing persecution of Serbs in Kosovo,” the statement read, accusing Pristina of violating international assurances that Serbs would not be prosecuted for expressing political dissatisfaction. The office further claimed that detained individuals often endure physical and psychological abuse“.
The Office for Kosovo and Metohija accused Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s administration of employing “Gestapo-like methods” to intimidate Serbs and push them out of the region.
For over a year, this Serbian government body has urged the international community to intervene and prevent what it describes as escalating violence and pressure against the Serb minority. The office claims that these actions are part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region and undermine normalization efforts.
In light of today’s arrest, they renewed calls for international organizations to take decisive action against what they view as Pristina’s unilateral measures. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija appealed for an end to violence and for a return to dialogue aimed at stabilizing relations.
“The international community must employ effective measures to curb Pristina’s destabilizing actions and return to the normalization process,” the office concluded.
The protests in May of last year outside the municipal building in Zvecan, which began peacefully, ended in violent clashes between a group of Serbs and KFOR soldiers. KFOR later reported that around 100 soldiers were injured, several seriously, making it the largest number of KFOR casualties since 1999. The protests were sparked by opposition to the entry of newly elected Albanian mayors into northern municipalities.
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