„That is absolutely not true, that’s science fiction. He’s just looking for a political way out, because legally he has none – all the evidence is there.“ This is how Kosovo’s acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, dismissed the claims of Serbian Democracy leader Aleksandar Arsenijević, who accused him of allegedly “planting weapons” on his property.
Arsenijević has been wanted in Kosovo since Sunday, after a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was discovered on a property in the village of Vallaq/Valač – buried in plastic pipes underneath a horse stable.
It was Sveçla himself who first publicly confirmed, on the same day, that the property in question belonged to Arsenijević.
Alongside a video of the seizure, Sveçla listed the confiscated arms and ammunition, stating that “crime can never be hidden, no matter what cover it wears,” and that Kosovo institutions “will not stop until the criminal and terrorist remnants of Serbia are completely eradicated.”
A day later, Sveçla said Kosovo authorities are searching for Arsenijević and that he will be detained as soon as he returns to Kosovo. Arsenijević, on the other hand, told KoSSev on Sunday that he is currently on a family trip abroad. He denied any ownership of the weapons and claimed that the whole case is a setup.
Speaking to KoSSev again yesterday, Arsenijević said he had initially planned to return to Kosovo on Sunday and was prepared to cooperate with the authorities. However, he changed his mind after Sveçla’s public statement.
He believes Sveçla is involved in the alleged setup and sees the entire case as politically motivated persecution. For this reason, he said, he has postponed his return and is now seeking guarantees for a fair trial.
Science fiction
In response to KoSSev’s inquiry yesterday regarding Arsenijević’s accusations, Minister Sveçla contacted the outlet today and firmly denied the claims of evidence planting.
„That is absolutely not true. It’s science fiction. This is a matter for the police and the prosecution. KFOR and EULEX were also witnesses,“ said Sveçla.
He emphasized that all evidence points to Arsenijević’s guilt.
„When an arsenal of weapons is found on someone’s property, it is normal for that person to be arrested. If he can prove that he is not responsible, then it’s up to the court to decide. But this wasn’t just a pistol – it was rocket launchers, grenades… This is the arsenal of a military unit,“ he said.
„I expect he will be arrested“
According to Sveçla, the best outcome for Arsenijević and the entire situation would be for him to „turn himself in and let the rule of law take its course.“
When asked about Arsenijević’s suspicion that he would not receive a fair trial, Sveçla insisted:
„There will be a fair trial. All standards and laws are in line with European norms, and there will be monitoring by embassies and international missions.“
The outgoing minister said he expects Arsenijević will be arrested if he returns to Kosovo.
„Considering all this, of course he will be stopped. It’s up to the prosecution and the court to decide on his detention. He will absolutely be stopped, and I am convinced he will be arrested – but again, that’s for the prosecution and the judiciary to decide,“ Sveçla told KoSSev.
„If it’s daytime, you can’t tell me it’s night“
KoSSev also asked the minister about his now-standard practice of publishing statements on social media immediately after arrests of Serbs in the north – often labeling them criminals even though investigations have only just begun and court proceedings have not yet started.
This is one of the concerns Arsenijević raised, suggesting that such statements create pressure on prosecutors to follow the minister’s narrative.
Responding to this, Sveçla gave a practical example:
„It’s 10:40 a.m. and it’s daytime. If I say it’s day, I’m not saying anything that’s not real, and there’s no pressure on anyone. If someone wants to sleep at this hour, they can’t say it’s night. ‘Fine, sleep – but it’s still day.’ What happened is crystal clear. You can’t store an arsenal like that – the weapons of a terrorist unit – and then say: ‘Don’t talk about it until the court speaks.’”
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
