The president of the Serbian Democracy party in Zvecan, Zoran Obrenović, claims he was the target of “brutal detention and mistreatment” by Kosovo Police officers today while driving with his son on the Zvecan–Mitrovica road. According to Kosovo Police, however, the detention resulted from Obrenović’s alleged refusal to comply with a police order.
In a statement issued by the Serbian Democracy (SD) party, police officers stopped their vehicle and, despite Obrenović allegedly handing over all personal documents, proceeded to behave violently, threatening and insulting them.
The statement further alleges that officers searched the interior of the vehicle, handcuffed Obrenović — leaving marks on his wrists — seized his keys, and took both him and his son to the police station in Zvecan.
During the detention, SD claims, Obrenović was not allowed to contact a lawyer, nor was he clearly informed about the reasons for his arrest.
After several hours, Obrenović and his son were released, but both received €300 fines each, without, according to SD, being clearly told what offense they had committed.
“This kind of behavior by institutions represents an open act of ethnic and political violence, aimed at intimidating the Serbian population, especially those who are politically active, as well as their families,” the party’s statement reads.
The Serbian Democracy party called on international missions — including EULEX, UNMIK, and KFOR — as well as all relevant embassies in Pristina, to “urgently react to this act of abuse of authority and repression.”
“Serbian Democracy will not stand idly by while our members are kidnapped, mistreated, and punished without grounds — and we will inform all competent international institutions about this,” the statement concludes.
Kosovo Police: Failure to Comply with Document Request
Petrit Fejza, head of operations for the Kosovo Police North Region, confirmed to KoSSev that both Zoran Obrenović and his son were detained today.
He explained that the pair were stopped on the Zvecan–Mitrovica road for a routine check, during which an officer requested their documents.
Contrary to the party’s version of events, Fejza stated that they refused to hand over their documents to the police.
As a result of this refusal, both were taken to the police station, where they were issued fines.
“When the police officer stopped them and asked for their documents, they refused to comply. Both were then detained and cited with a misdemeanor report. They were released immediately afterwards,” Fejza told KoSSev.
Calls for Statements in Leposavic
Earlier, two SD members from Leposavic — Vladimir Radosavljević and Aleksandar Lazović — were summoned to the local police station to give statements, with instructions to attend with legal counsel, according to a party statement.
Kosovo Police confirmed this to KoSSev as well, explaining that the pair were to be questioned in relation to a threat report.
However, police said they had no information on who had filed the complaint, as the case had been referred to the prosecution rather than directly to the police.
“We see this move as part of continued targeting of Serbian Democracy representatives and broader pressure on politically active Serbs in northern Kosovo,” the party said in connection with the Leposavic case.
Here, too, the SD party called on international missions — EULEX, KFOR, and UNMIK — as well as diplomatic representatives in Pristina to “urgently react to this form of systematic political violence being carried out against representatives of the Serbian community.”
Series of Incidents Involving the Serbian Democracy Party
This is just one in a series of incidents involving members and activists of the Serbian Democracy party.
Earlier this week, the party claimed that spyware was allegedly installed without authorization on the mobile phone of its deputy leader, Ivan Orlović, during what it described as his unlawful detention on Vidovdan at the police station in Vučitrn/Vushtrri,.
Party leader Aleksandar Arsenijević was also in the spotlight ahead of Vidovdan, after Kosovo police discovered buried weapons on his property in the village of Valac near Zvecan in June, including anti-tank rocket launchers, hand grenades, and ammunition. Arsenijević rejected the accusations, calling them a setup and an attempt to force him out of Kosovo, insisting the searches took place while he was away. Kosovo authorities have announced that he will be arrested if he returns to Kosovo, while Arsenijević has stated he is willing to appear before a court, but only if guaranteed a fair trial.
On Vidovdan itself, Serbian Democracy vice president Stefan Veljković was detained at Gazimestan for refusing to remove a T-shirt bearing Arsenijević’s image. After being held for several hours at the police station in Vučitrn/Vushtrri, Veljković was released. The following day, outside his home in the northern part of Mitrovica, Veljković was physically assaulted. According to his account, an assailant first attempted to run him over with a car and then attacked him, inflicting head and neck injuries. Kosovo Police confirmed that the incident had been reported and that two individuals had been questioned in connection with the attack.
Finally, members of the party were again detained this week in Mitrovica during protests sparked by the visit of Albin Kurti.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
