In a statement released this evening, Kosovo Police Headquarters addressed the recent detention of Miloš Subotić. The announcement follows an earlier statement from the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, which confirmed it had opened an investigation into Subotić’s claims of alleged mistreatment by police officers. While the police did not explicitly refute these allegations, they presented a differing account of the incident.
According to police reports, the incident began around 2:35 a.m. when officers reportedly encountered Subotić engaging in suspicious behavior.
Police allege that Subotić attempted to damage various items and equipment protected by a surrounding tarp, which were located outside a local store.
„The suspect unexpectedly damaged the tarp and, after crossing over it, entered private property, causing damage to several items,“ police stated.
Photographs released by police show a green tarp, ladder, scattered paper towels, and torn plastic covering goods outside the store, suggesting an apparent disturbance. The images also include a blurry, surveillance-style photo, though the video footage itself was not released.
Police further claimed that officers instructed Subotić to cease his actions. However, they assert that he disregarded these orders and verbally abused the officers in Serbian.
„Despite the officers’ continued attempts to prevent his behavior and verbal insults, he did not comply with lawful orders, forcing officers to detain and take him to the station,“ the police stated.
Authorities also noted that they suspected Subotić was under the influence of alcohol, though he reportedly refused to undergo testing. Following his arrest, Subotić was reportedly charged with vandalism and subsequently released.
In response to Subotić’s allegations of mistreatment, police confirmed they had notified the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, initiating an internal review to assess any potential misconduct by officers involved.
The KPI had already begun a preliminary investigation earlier in the day, driven by media reports and reactions from civil society groups in North Mitrovica.
Subotić later announced on the social media platform X that he had been summoned to give a statement to the Inspectorate, which is gathering information as part of its duty to verify his claims.
Read more:
‘How Can I Trust the Police?’: Miloš Subotić’s Struggle for Justice After Alleged Assault
Mitrovica Resident Alleges Police Abuse After Detention Incident; Kosovo Police Deny Claims
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
