A traditional high school graduation parade in North Mitrovica ended in controversy on May 23, after an interethnic incident involving a Serbian student and Kosovo police drew criticism from the public, officials, and international organizations.
As is customary, final-year high school students marked the end of their secondary education by marching through the city accompanied by brass musicians. But around noon, while the group was walking along the city’s main promenade, an incident occurred near a café owned by an ethnic Albanian. Video footage from the day shows a man in the café making the double-headed eagle gesture—a symbol often associated with Albanian nationalism—towards the students.
In response, some of the students were seen giving the middle finger, which prompted police intervention. However, as the footage reveals, the police response appeared to be directed solely at the students.
A younger police officer singled out one student, grabbed him by the neck, and reportedly spoke to him in Albanian, accusing him of provocation. This interaction escalated into a scuffle between the student and several police officers.
Despite a wave of public backlash, including criticism from international observers regarding the officer’s handling of the situation and his seemingly aggressive reaction, Kosovo officials have maintained that the police acted professionally. Authorities in Pristina have placed full blame on the students, and the officer in question later stated he was „more determined than ever to continue with integrity, dedication, and honor.“ He received support from Albanian users on social media, though he was relocated to a police station in the southern part of the city due to alleged threats.
The Serbian government responded by issuing an arrest warrant for the officer, stating he would be prosecuted „whenever he becomes available to Serbian law enforcement, with no statute of limitations.“ Belgrade also condemned what it called systemic violations of the human rights of Kosovo Serbs, urging international stakeholders to take action.
Red Marks Fuel Misinformation
Much of the public outrage in North Mitrovica focused on the physical handling of the student. However, several Serbian tabloids and online outlets placed focus on the visible red marks on the student’s neck during the incident, reporting that the officer had injured him, with headlines claiming that he had “bloodied” the boy’s neck.
For example, Alo ran the headline, “Horror in Kosovska Mitrovica! Kurti’s police attack student, blood everywhere, grabbing him by the neck!” Similarly, Direktno portal published, “Incident in Kosovska Mitrovica: Kosovo police officer abuses student, neck BLOODY,” echoing similar claims in the article text.
The portal Insajder also stated that there were „visible traces of blood“ on the student’s neck, citing KoSSev and FoNet—although KoSSev did not report any such details.
Social media posts, including those from international users and outlets such as The National Independent (UK), spread similar narratives.
#BREAKING #Serbia JUST IN: Targeted Violence by Kosovo* Regime Against Serbian Population Continues
Kosovo* police harassed a high school graduate in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. The young man sustained visible neck injuries, with blood clearly showing. pic.twitter.com/pR6YR4mmus
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) May 23, 2025
However, it quickly emerged that the red marks on the student’s neck were not from injuries. Rather, they were from red markers used as part of the graduation celebration tradition, in which students sign each other’s bodies with permanent markers. This was confirmed both by the students themselves and by the Kosovo Police Director, Gazmend Hoxha, citing the student’s own statement.
Why Did a Police Officer Grab a Graduate by the Neck in North Mitrovica?
From Police Conduct to Media Manipulation
The core concern in the incident remains the conduct of the police officer—particularly the use of physical force and verbal behavior toward a young student, in a context already marked by ethnic tensions.
Rather than focusing on whether the police response was appropriate and professional, some media outlets chose to amplify unverified and sensational claims about alleged injuries.
In sensitive environments such as Kosovo, where interethnic relations remain fragile, it is the responsibility of the media to verify information from multiple sources, avoid sensationalism, and refrain from spreading panic or falsehoods.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
