New method in the mistreatment of the Serbs: Arrests due to personal photos violate basic human rights

The Kosovo Police have recently started arresting Serbs based on photos they had posted on social media long ago. Although these are completely unfounded accusations and it quickly becomes apparent that people cannot be held in custody for this reason, the incursion of special police into homes and subsequent detention have consequences, instilling additional fear, pressure, and insecurity among the local Serbs.

The fact that Kosovo Police operate outside the boundaries of the law in such cases is evident in the way they initially claim to have found weapons and ammunition on the person they arrested, only to reveal the next day that nothing was found and that the arrest was due to social media photos, which is then hushed up.

To make matters worse, civil society in Kosovo, NGOs, EULEX, and no one from the international community responded to these events.

Aleksandar Mitic, a Research Associate at the Institute for International Politics and Economics, stated that the arrest of the Serbs by the Kosovo Police based on photos and comments they posted on social media represented a gross violation of human rights and was a part of the escalation of the "hunt for the Serbs" to an even higher level, with the aim of ethnically cleansing northern Kosovo.

He points out that the Serbs in this situation should be protected by EULEX, but that this Mission, as he says, "has given up on its mandate".

"This is another concerning move and trend, and I am convinced that it will continue if there is no strong reaction. We can no longer expect it from EULEX, but if there is no political pressure on Pristina from its sponsors within the Quint countries. If that doesn't happen, I don't believe such actions can be stopped," he emphasized.

Legal expert Milan Antonijevic emphasizes that respect for human rights must be paramount for Pristina, especially if it wishes to normalize relations and lift EU sanctions.

"Freedom of expression must be inviolable, especially in these turbulent times, given everything that has happened in northern Kosovo in recent weeks. The only thing that the Kosovo authorities must focus on is providing all freedoms, freedom of movement, which is currently partially restricted, and freedom of expression and opinion. Unfortunately, I don't understand why the Kosovo authorities have chosen to escalate tensions in this way. Their obligation, if they want to lift sanctions, is to normalize relations and prevent all these tensions and anything that somehow threatens the rights of the Serbs in Kosovo," Antonijevic stated.

The Kosovo Police conducted a search, arrested, and placed a Serb in custody who was holding a weapon in a photograph, which was proven to be fake. Antonijevic expressed astonishment that Pristina would infringe on human rights in such a harsh manner, especially since, as he said, there was no basis for a criminal offense in this particular case.

"Social media posts can, in certain cases, threaten individuals if you consider our country's criminal codes. But in this specific case, when we talk about publishing photos and captions, there are no elements of a criminal offense, and it truly surprises me that searches and actions that encroach upon human rights, especially the sensitive Serbian community in Kosovo, are being carried out in this way," Antonijevic said.

According to Mitic, the behavior of Western actors is identical both before and after the conflict in Banjska, so it cannot be expected that they will react differently now and take the side of the Serbs.

"Now everyone is referring to Banjska, but considering everything that happened earlier, the behavior of the Quint and Western actors is identical both before and after, so we don't see that they made any effort before the events in Banjska to challenge Kurti's intentions and actions in any way. Therefore, I do not expect this to happen now. In the last few days, they believe they have more maneuvering space, and it is more convenient for them to give Kurti a free hand than it was before these events. Essentially, giving Kurti and Pristina a green light is identical to what happened before Banjska. I do not expect a more serious reaction now; I would be surprised if it were to happen," Mitic concluded.

Antonijevic emphasizes that respecting human rights is an obligation of Kosovo's institutions according to Kosovo's laws and is within EULEX's jurisdiction.

"Kosovo recognizes the European Convention on Human Rights, even though it is not a member of the Council of Europe. On the other hand, EULEX's mission is there to promote respect for human rights. Institutions that have direct support from the EU and the US are duty-bound to react in every case to prevent any abuse of authority by the police and the Prosecution," Antonijevic concluded.