Antonijevic: Freedom of expression is also being denied to the Serbs in Kosovo, the US and the EU should react

Lawyer Milan Antonijevic commented on the arrests of Serbs in Kosovo based on photos and posts on social media, stating that Kosovo's authorities were further escalating tensions through such actions, even though their duty was to respect freedom of movement, expression, and opinion.

Antonijevic stressed that Pristina must respect human rights, particularly if they want to normalize relations and lift EU sanctions, as he highlighted for Kosovo Online.

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

According to him, the US and the EU will not tolerate Kosovo's Police or the Prosecutor's Office abusing the right to freedom.

Kosovo Police conducted a search, arrested, and detained a Serb based on a photograph in which he held a weapon that was proven not to be real. Antonijevic expressed his surprise that Pristina was encroaching upon human rights in such a harsh manner, as, in his opinion, there were no elements of a criminal offense in that specific case.

"Social media posts can, in certain cases, endanger individuals if you look at the criminal codes of our country. However, in this particular case, when it comes to publishing photos and captions, there are no elements of a criminal offense. It truly surprises me that searches are being carried out and things that encroach upon human rights, especially the vulnerable Serbian community in Kosovo," Antonijevic said.

He believes that punitive measures against Pristina will remain in effect until such incidents cease and the rights of Serbs are fully protected.

Respecting human rights is an obligation of Kosovo institutions according to Kosovo's laws, and it also falls under EULEX's jurisdiction, as he emphasized.

"Kosovo acknowledges the European Convention on Human Rights, even though it is not a member of the Council of Europe. On the other hand, the EULEX mission is there to promote respect for human rights. Institutions with direct EU and US support are obliged to react in every case to prevent if there have been any overstepping of authority by the police and the Prosecutor's Office," Antonijevic concluded.