Five arrested Serbs in Strpce and Gnjilane placed in detention for up to 30 days

The Court in Pristina has ordered one-month detention for five men arrested yesterday in Strpce and Gnjilane on suspicion that, as members of the Serbian police, they allegedly participated in the operation in Racak on January 15, 1999, Nebojsa Vlajic, the attorney representing the first defendant, Novica Pecinocevic, confirmed to Kosovo Online.

Vlajic reminds that the detention hearing was held yesterday, while the attorneys received the court's decision late last night.

Yesterday morning, the Kosovo Police carried out an operation in the municipality of Strpce, in Gotovusa and the villages of Vica and Berevce.

Following the arrests, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija reacted, stating that what is taking place is systematic political and institutional violence by Pristina under the leadership of Albin Kurti, and that the arrested individuals are people who have lived in Kosovo for years and have never left their homes because they had nothing to hide from and no reason to flee.

The Serb List stated that these arrests represent a new wave of intimidation and persecution of Serbs in Strpce and Gnjilane, aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear and placing additional pressure on the Serbian people.

Kosovo Special Prosecutor Ilir Morina stated that the prosecution, in its investigations into the Racak case, has identified several other individuals who participated in that event.