Jovica Arsic deported from Kosovo and stripped of citizenship

Jovica Arsic from the village of Strelica in the municipality of Kosovska Kamenica, employed by Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), was deported today by order of the Directorate for Migration in Pristina, after being arrested earlier in the day at the Konculj administrative crossing, his attorney Milos Nikolic confirmed to Kosovo Online.

In a telephone conversation, Nikolic stated that his client has been banned from entering Kosovo for five years and has been stripped of his Kosovo citizenship.

"We will pursue all available legal remedies. We will appeal this decision, but unfortunately, the appeal does not suspend its execution. I will also initiate administrative proceedings before the Administrative Court to reduce the five-year entry ban to Kosovo," Nikolic said.

He added that Arsic had been employed for years with the Police Directorate in Vranje and had never previously encountered any problems with the Kosovo authorities.

Arsic is the fifth Serb to be arrested for being employed by Serbia's MUP. The Kosovo authorities claim that the revocation of citizenship is based on Article 24 of the Kosovo Law on Citizenship, which requires individuals employed in foreign security services to report this to Kosovo authorities.

Milan Zlatanovic from Veliko Ropotovo was deported at the Bela Zemlja crossing three days ago.

Previously, the Kosovo police arrested Mladen Milojevic from Leposavic, Aleksandar Mirkovic from Partes, Nikola Vujovic from Zubin Potok, and Milan Simic from Babin Most.

Mirkovic, Vujovic, and Milojevic, like Zlatanovic, are active members of Serbia’s Ministry of the Interior, while Simic is a retired police officer.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced earlier today that it will inform international representatives of yet another unlawful arrest and expulsion of a Serb employed by Serbia's Ministry of the Interior.

"It is shameful that the entire international community remains silent in the face of the unlawful expulsion and persecution of Serbs, whose basic human rights are being violated and whose freedoms, guaranteed by international conventions, are under threat," the Office for Kosovo and Metohija stated.