Six people arrested over the destruction of gravestones at the Orthodox cemetery in Plemetina

Six people were arrested last night in Obilic on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of damaging a cemetery on December 13 in Plemetina. According to a statement from the Kosovo Police, five of the suspects are minors.

The suspects were sent into custody by order of the prosecutor, while investigators are carrying out all necessary investigative and procedural actions related to the case, the Kosovo Police said in a statement.

As a reminder, on December 13 two gravestones were toppled and vandalized at the new Orthodox cemetery in Plemetina near Obilic, and residents of this predominantly Serb village notified the police in order to identify and punish those responsible.

Petar Jakovljevic, a relative of the deceased whose gravestones were damaged, says that this is already the fourth time that someone has attacked the new Orthodox cemetery in Plemetina.

“I informed the police in Obilic, I informed the international human rights community in Obilic. We do not suspect anyone, it would be a sin to say that I suspect someone, but someone did this. Who it was, let the competent prosecuting authorities who are here investigate it, and let the executive authorities in Kosovo do their job and resolve the problems,” Jakovljevic said.

Following the destruction of the two gravestones, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija also issued a statement, saying that the destruction of the Serbian gravestones of the Jakovljevic family in Plemetina near Obilic was a vandalistic and anti-civilizational act by those who wish nothing good for the Serbian people in Kosovo and who do not want peace and coexistence in these areas.

About 800 Serbs live in Plemetina.