EULEX on reinstatement of suspended police officers: We are monitoring the case; contact Kosovo Police regarding this matter

“We invite you to contact the Kosovo Police regarding this matter. EULEX will continue to monitor this case,” the Mission told Kosovo Online, commenting on the reinstatement of two Kosovo Police officers who had been suspended over the alleged beating of Serb Nenad Raskovic.

Erduan Baljici, Head of the Operational Planning and Assessment Unit, confirmed to Kosovo Online that the two Kosovo Police officers had returned to duty at the police station in North Mitrovica, explaining that the suspension previously imposed by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate had expired.

The Serbian List also reacted, seeking answers as to who had decided, and on the basis of what findings, to reinstate the two police officers who had been suspended on suspicion of involvement in the alleged mistreatment of Nenad Raskovic from Dren. It also asked whether the investigation had been completed and, if not, why the officers had been returned to duty before its conclusion.

Nenad Raskovic, a Serb from the village of Dren, was seriously injured on August 11 after, according to his account, he was beaten by Kosovo Police officers.

Raskovic was admitted to the Clinical Hospital Center in Kosovska Mitrovica but, due to the severity of his injuries, was transferred to the Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade for treatment.

Following his allegations, the Kosovo Police Inspectorate opened an ex officio investigation and subsequently recommended that the Kosovo Police suspend two officers from the Regional Police Directorate in North Mitrovica on suspicion of the criminal offense of “mistreatment in the exercise of official duties or public authority.”