In the early hours of the morning, a Serbian man identified as D.R. was assaulted and robbed in his home in the village of Staro Gracko, within the municipality of Lipljan, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija confirmed this morning. They also specified that assailants, who allegedly spoke Albanian, broke into D.R.’s home, tied him up, and brutally beat him before making off with his belongings.
In its report, Kosovo police recorded a robbery and physical assault in Lipljan at the same time last night. An investigation has been launched, and the case is initially being treated as robbery.
Attack Details
The assault took place around midnight, according to the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. D.R., who now lives alone following a recent family bereavement, was reportedly attacked by three individuals who stormed into his home.
„The attackers, who spoke Albanian, first tied him up, then beat him with a stick, and finally robbed him,“ the Office said in a statement.
Neighbors found D.R. after the attack and notified the authorities.
Kosovo police confirmed receiving the report from the victim, noting that the masked perpetrators stole a glass container valued at 2,200 euros.
„The complainant, a Kosovo male, reported that three masked individuals physically assaulted him in his yard and robbed him of a glass container worth 2,200 euros,“ the police report said. Medical assistance was provided to the victim following the attack.
Survivor’s Testimony
D.R., who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Mitrovica, shared his harrowing experience with local media outlets – TV Most and Kosovo Online.
„Around 10 minutes to midnight, I heard something near the house, and then the dog started barking,“ he recounted. „I thought it might just be stray dogs, but the barking grew louder. They were throwing apples at the dog from my orchard. I grabbed a large flashlight and went outside, but when I turned it towards the house, I saw three men standing with wooden sticks.“
„They rushed at me, threw me to the ground, and started beating me. Afterward, they dragged me into the house, tied me up with a cable, and took everything I had—2,200 euros and another 50 euros I had in my pocket, money I had worked hard for. After I told them where the money was, they fled, leaving me tied up,“ D.R. said.
He added that he believes the attackers were Albanian.
Political Fallout
The Office for Kosovo and Metohija condemned the attack in strong terms, linking it to the broader political situation in Kosovo.
They claimed that the assault on D.R. was a direct consequence of the anti-Serbian policies pursued by the government in Pristina.
„This brutal attack is the result of the institutional violence led by Pristina and Albin Kurti against Serbs. Numerous incidents of police brutality send a message that Serbs in Kosovo are legitimate and desirable targets, with no one held accountable for their suffering,“ the Office said.
The village of Staro Gracko, once home to a significant Serbian population, has seen a dramatic decline in its Serbian community. This latest attack has further heightened fears among the remaining Serbs.
„This attack has brought immense fear and anxiety to the remaining Serbs in Staro Gracko. Those whose duty it is to protect them are turning a blind eye to their own shame,“ the Office stated.
The Office for Kosovo and Metohija also questioned the lack of response from international representatives in Pristina.
„Will anyone from the international community in Pristina speak out about the ordeal D.R. endured? Will human rights activists raise their voices for this brutally beaten Serbian man, or does he not exist to them? Will they demand that Pristina and Kurti cease their policies that incite violence and terror against Serbs?“
Srpska Lista also condemned the attack in a similar tone.
On the other hand, there have been no further details or clarifications from Pristina regarding this incident, nor any comments on the claims from Belgrade.
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