Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, has accused Serbian media and political actors of exploiting the recent incident in North Mitrovica for propaganda purposes, claiming they are portraying a police warning as an act of violence.
„A police officer’s request for a group not to provoke citizens to prevent escalation is being labeled as violence, and the placement of a hand as choking,” Sveçla said in a statement. He criticized what he described as expressions of extremism and chauvinism by some Serb groups, claiming these are falsely depicted as celebratory events.
“They present displays of extremism and chauvinism as festive gatherings, and red paint used for body decoration as blood,” he said, adding, “Nothing new from them.” He concluded that such “propaganda” only resonates with “uninformed and nationalist circles in Serbia.”
Serbian MIA Issues Warrant for KP Officer Involved in the Incident
At the same time, Serbian officials have launched their own counter-offensive. Serbia’s Ministry of Interior issued an arrest warrant for Dilot Brahimi, a Kosovo Police officer, on suspicion that he physically assaulted and injured a Serbian high school student during the incident. Serbian police pledged to arrest him “as soon as he becomes available to Serbian authorities, from today onwards, with no statute of limitations.”
Serbia’s Ministry of Justice has called for an urgent, impartial international investigation and prosecution of those involved. It also appealed to the international community to suspend political and logistical support for the Kosovo Police until accountability is established and Serbian human rights are protected.
What Happened on the North Mitrovica Promenade?
The altercation took place during a traditional graduation parade in North Mitrovica, where students marched through the town accompanied by brass bands. Tensions reportedly rose when a guest at a local café—owned by an ethnic Albanian—made a hand gesture resembling the double-headed eagle, a symbol often associated with Albanian nationalism.
According to students who spoke to KoSSev, they responded by showing their middle fingers. Police then intervened, and video footage circulating on social media shows an officer grabbing a student by the neck, telling him in Albanian to stop provoking. A brief scuffle ensued between students and police officers.
While some viewers interpreted the red marks on the student’s neck as signs of injury, it was later clarified that the students had painted themselves with red markers as part of their celebration.
The incident drew sharp criticism from a range of actors—including EULEX representatives, northern Kosovo politicians, Serbian officials, and NGOs—who accused Kosovo Police of using excessive force.
In contrast, the Kosovo Police in the North defended their response, stating their officers acted appropriately to de-escalate a potentially volatile situation. They argued that the students had been heckling café guests and were asked politely to stop.
Minister Sveçla echoed this account, praising the officers’ conduct and accusing the students of provoking tensions with chants like “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia.” He posted a video showing young people waving Serbian flags and singing “Vidovdan,” a folk song with strong national and religious connotations—but did not include footage of the incident itself, or the café guest showing the double-headed eagle.
Why Did a Police Officer Grab a Graduate by the Neck in North Mitrovica?
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
