Serbs arrested in PR for terrorism-related crimes released from custody

Three Serbs who were detained on Saturday after purchasing „KLA“ emblems in Pristina – and charged with crimes under Article 138 of the Criminal Code, i.e. preparation of terrorist acts or crimes against the constitutional order and security of Kosovo – were released from custody on Sunday night, a lawyer of one of the detained Serbs, Jovana Filipovic, confirmed for KoSSev last night.

Filipovic says that there is no official information so far about the reason for the release.

Filipovic confirmed the three Serbs were arrested after purchasing five KLA emblems in a Pristina store.

However, contrary to the allegations presented in the Pristina media about the reason for the purchase, she claims that her client is a collector who has a shop where he exhibits war insignia. 

The Kosovo police detained five people (3 Serbian citizens and two Kosovan) in Pristina on Saturday, the Kosovo Police previously confirmed for KoSSev, while failing to specify the reason behind the detainment.

Meanwhile, KosovaPress and other Pristina based media reported while citing their findings, that the persons in question were arrested for purchasing KLA uniforms and emblems.

The same media outlets also alleged that the detainees were drawing up a plan to make videos „claiming that some soldiers dressed in KLA uniforms were preparing to occupy the north of Kosovo.” They claimed that Serbia wanted to fabricate events to create “a reason to militarily intervene to protect Serbs in northern Kosovo.“

Upon their release, the head of the Kosovo Office, Petar Petkovic, told media that „the anti-Serb hysteria and the fake news campaign directed by Albin Kurti is at its peak.“ He also commented on allegations that Serbs were preparing a „staged attack.“

„In addition, lies are being spread that Serbs are preparing some kind of staged attack on the north? Pristina should stop deceiving and artificially creating a crisis,“ he said.

On the other hand, the lawyer of one of the accused, Jovana Filipovic, told KoSSev that her client is a collector with a certificate from the Association of Collectors of the Republic of Serbia and that he owns a Nis-based shop that sells military or camouflage equipment and war insignia.

„In his shop, he exhibits under various topics – whether it’s the wars of the 1990s, World War I, World War II – flags, military insignia, emblems that were characteristic of that period, so that is why he bought these emblems,“ said Filipovic.

She explains that her client, together with two other Serbs, came to Kosovo for the requiem for the deceased and that they then visited the Army shop in Pristina with their acquaintances – two ethnic Albanians, where they bought „KLA“ emblems.

In her words, the purchase was carried out regularly, they have a receipt, and they bought the emblems as souvenirs. She pointed out that only five emblems were purchased – and not a large quantity, as some Albanian media had claimed.

After the purchase, however, they were detained by the police, she adds.

Furthermore, Filipovic denies media allegations that they also purchased uniforms, but also that they had a larger amount of money on them, that is, tens of thousands of euros.

Filipovic confirmed that three Serbs were arrested and detained for 48 hours, but not the two Albanians who were with them and who have not been charged so far.

All three were remanded 48 hours in custody and charged with crimes under Article 138 of the Criminal Code of Kosovo – Preparation of terrorist acts or crimes against the constitutional order and security of Kosovo.

A detention hearing should be held today unless the prosecutor deems that there are no elements of a criminal offense.

According to Filipovic, however, there are no elements of a criminal offense in this case.

„As the defense, we believe that there is no room to continue this criminal procedure because no action my client has taken is incriminating and has nothing to do with the criminal act he is charged with,“ said Filipovic.

She noted that, however, this case is now observed from the standpoint of the current political situation – the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Finally, Filipovic says that her clients simply found themselves in the wrong place, at the wrong time.