EULEX: We are monitoring the activities of Kosovo authorities related to the Vidovdan commemoration

The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) told Kosovo Online that it has been monitoring, and continues to monitor, the activities carried out by the Kosovo authorities in connection with yesterday's Vidovdan commemoration.

Asked by Kosovo Online whether the Kosovo Police exceeded their authority during yesterday's operation at Gazimestan, EULEX said that if its monitoring identifies any serious shortcomings, it will raise them with the relevant authorities.

"We have been monitoring, and continue to monitor, the activities carried out by the Kosovo authorities in connection with the Vidovdan commemoration. If our monitoring identifies any serious shortcomings, we will bring them to the attention of the competent authorities," EULEX said in its response.

Yesterday, on Vidovdan, after the memorial service at Gazimestan had concluded, the Kosovo Police closed the gates, formed a cordon, and began detaining people who had attended the gathering. Among those detained were a father and his daughter.

According to a police statement, 37 people were detained. The police said the individuals had provoked those gathered by shouting provocative slogans containing elements of incitement to hatred, thereby violating legal provisions.

Those detained were released after being questioned and misdemeanor proceedings have been initiated against them. Their court hearing has been scheduled for today at 1 p.m.

The Serbian Government's Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced yesterday that it would inform all international representatives about the detentions, describing them as a shameful and outrageous act of repression by Albin Kurti's regime.

The Serb List said the incident was an attempt to intimidate the Serbian community and evidence of repression by the authorities in Pristina, about which it had informed international representatives.

Dalibor Jevtic, Vice President of the Serb List, sent a letter to the White House Faith Office, drawing the urgent attention of US officials to what he described as escalating repression and the systematic violation of the human rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo.