Filipovic: Sasa Z. detained for up to 30 days due to TikTok video against the KLA

Sasa Z. (39) from Belgrade, who was arrested two nights ago at the Merdare crossing, has been detained for up to 30 days, confirmed lawyer Jovana Filipovic to Kosovo Online.

Sasa Z. was arrested the night before the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the massacre of 14 Serbian harvesters in Old Gracko, where he was supposed to participate in a Memorial Football Tournament.

Filipovic emphasized that Sasa Z. was initially charged with two criminal offenses: unlawful possession of weapons and spreading racial, religious hatred and intolerance.

However, she added, he was cleared of the weapon possession charge.

"Regarding the criminal offense related to the weapon, that charge was dropped because what he had with him was just a pocket knife and is not considered a weapon. That was dropped today. Regarding that matter, no proceedings are being conducted against him for that criminal offense, but only for spreading hatred. And detention was ordered because he is a foreign national and there is a risk of flight," Filipovic stated.

She explained that her client is charged with spreading hatred based on a TikTok video in which he criticizes the KLA.

She announced that she would file an appeal against the detention order tomorrow.

"We offered bail and the possibility of house arrest today, proposing that he be placed with friends in Kosovo, but our request was denied, so an appeal will be filed tomorrow, and we will see what the Appellate Court's stance will be," she said.