A 20-year-old man from Zvecan, identified as M.R., was arrested yesterday for allegedly making threats against Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, via social media. The arrest was confirmed by the Kosovo Police today, following an investigation involving the Serious Crimes Unit in Pristina.
While the police in the northern region of Kosovo initially declined to name the target of the threats, they confirmed that M.R. was detained in connection with social media posts allegedly shared on behalf of the „Northern Brigade,“ threatening violence against a high-ranking official in Pristina.
Home Search and Confiscation of Firearm
After detaining M.R., authorities conducted a search of his home and discovered a hunting rifle, reportedly without a valid permit. M.R. has been placed in custody for up to 48 hours while the investigation continues.
Father’s Statement: Rifle Ownership Clarified
The father of the detained youth clarified for KoSSev that the hunting rifle belongs to him, not his son.
“The hunting rifle was voluntarily handed over by me before the search. I informed the officers that I owned it and showed them where it was kept. I possess a permit for the rifle, but it has expired. My only mistake was not renewing the permit, as I was unaware I could do so,” he explained.
The father added that he had been informed at the Zvecan police station that the re-registration process for hunting firearms was currently underway. He also commended the police for their professional conduct during the investigation.
Defense Cites Mitigating Circumstances
Jelena Krivokapić, the lawyer representing M.R., confirmed that her client was arrested for allegedly threatening Prime Minister Kurti online. She noted, however, that M.R. was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the alleged incident, impairing his judgment.
She also highlighted the young man’s background, describing him as a member of a respectable family.
Krivokapić also noted that the father of the accused jumped to offer help during a police accident just weeks prior. On December 13, he was the first to provide aid to a Kosovo Police officer injured in a car crash in Grabovac.
According to both Krivokapić and the father, the officer was bloodied and suffering from a severe arm injury when the father stepped in to immobilize the limb using a makeshift splint.
“I didn’t want to make this public, but it’s true. The police vehicle overturned near the gas station in Grabovac. A special forces officer emerged from the car, bloodied, with his arm hanging. I immediately provided assistance,” the father recounted.
Next Steps in the Case
M.R. is expected to appear before a judge today. His lawyer has urged the court to consider the mitigating circumstances, including his age, intoxicated state during the alleged offense, and his family’s unblemished reputation. Meanwhile, the police continue their investigation, with the prosecutor’s office in North Mitrovica overseeing the case.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
