The Diocese of Raška–Prizren has called on representatives of the international community and missions present in Kosovo to closely monitor the recent arrests of five Kosovo Serbs on suspicion of war crimes, warning of broader consequences for the survival of the remaining Serbian communities in the area.
Five men were arrested early Sunday morning during a police operation conducted at six separate locations — five in the municipality of Srbica and one in North Mitrovica. They are suspected of involvement in the killing of six Albanian civilians in the village of Suvo Grlo between May and June 1998.
The detainees, identified by their initials as S.T., N.T., G.T., P.T., and R.K., have been placed in custody for up to 48 hours.
The arrests were condemned by Serbia’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija and by the Serb political party Srpska Lista, which described the move as politically motivated and part of what they called an established practice by the authorities in Pristina of sending a message that “anyone can become a target.”
They argued that such actions represent intimidation and persecution of Serbs, alleging that the international community has failed to respond adequately.
Diocese: “Deepening Fear and Distrust”
In a statement issued Sunday evening, the Diocese said it does not dispute the need to investigate every individual war crime and to ensure justice for all victims, regardless of ethnicity.
However, it warned that truth and justice “cannot be built on an atmosphere of collective guilt and intimidation through the selective application of the law,” which it said has been evident in recent years.
“Justice without trust does not heal wounds — it deepens them,” the Diocese stated, stressing that all legal proceedings must be based on clear and verified facts, with full respect for the presumption of innocence and the dignity of the accused and their families.
The Diocese expressed particular concern that the arrested individuals are regarded in their local communities as respected family men and householders, with no prior public accusations or proceedings linking them to serious crimes over the past two and a half decades. That context, it said, has heightened feelings of insecurity among local Serbs.
“When several people are deprived of their liberty in small communities, fear quickly spreads to entire villages — to families and children — calling their future into question,” the statement said.
The Diocese pointed out that Suvo Grlo, Banje and Crkolez are the only remaining Serbian villages in that part of Kosovo, having survived the post-1999 expulsions and displacement. Their continued existence, it said, is due to the “courage and perseverance” of residents who chose to remain despite pressures and threats.
In such circumstances, the Diocese warned, actions perceived as intimidating risk undermining already fragile trust and further complicating daily life for vulnerable communities.
Appeal to International Missions
The Church called on international representatives to pay close attention not only to the legal cases themselves but also to their wider social impact.
“Our small communities are not abstract ‘minorities’,” the statement read. “They are concrete people and families trying to live and work normally, to raise their children and remain in their homes.”
While reiterating that it supports the pursuit of justice for all victims, the Diocese cautioned against legal proceedings that appear as public spectacles in small environments, arguing that such actions may generate fear rather than establish truth.
Frequent arrests of Serbs in recent years, the Diocese said, are increasingly perceived within the community as “an open campaign aimed at driving the remaining Serbian population from their ancestral homes.”
The Church said it expects the relevant authorities to ensure that proceedings are conducted in accordance with justice and human dignity. It also pledged continued spiritual and pastoral support to the affected families.
The statement concluded by warning that the arrests have already caused “serious shock and unrest” among residents who have lived for decades in conditions of isolation and insecurity, and expressed hope that the truth would be established “without injustice or bias,” allowing peace to return to what it described as a deeply unsettled community.
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