New Social Initiative: The current level of mistrust between citizens and the police is unsustainable

The non-governmental organization New Social Initiative has stated that it condemns the detention of its director, Jovana Radosavljevic, although it does not find the detention surprising given the prevailing atmosphere in northern Kosovo. They claim that citizens increasingly fear being detained without any reason, as the current level of mistrust between citizens and the police is unsustainable and requires urgent measures to reduce tensions.

On Facebook, the organization recalled that Jovana Radosavljevic was detained yesterday at the Bistrica checkpoint for allegedly unauthorized recording. After being questioned at the police station in Zvecan, she was released with a notice that she had committed a misdemeanor.

They emphasized that Radosavljevic had been recording from her car using a phone mounted on a holder designed for that purpose. According to them, this method of recording is equivalent to using a dashboard camera and, as with such cameras, it was intended solely for her personal safety and protection.

“Trust in the Kosovo Police in northern Kosovo, particularly in the special units deployed at the Bistrica checkpoint, is at an all-time low. This is exacerbated by the behavior of police officers at this checkpoint. Radosavljevic, whose family lives in Leposavic, passes through the Bistrica checkpoint several times a week and has already experienced numerous unpleasant situations: from having weapons pointed at her during inspections, to inappropriate comments about her marital status, to instances where communication with officers was virtually impossible,” the statement said.

Due to her personal experiences, as well as testimonies from other citizens about incidents—including the shooting of a civilian by police at the same checkpoint, surrounded by “sniper nests”—Radosavljevic felt the need to further protect herself from potentially unprofessional conduct or even possible police brutality. She viewed recording as a way to secure evidence in case of any problems.

“This raises the question of the basis and motives for imposing a ban on recording along a section of the main road, which is public property. Does this police decision aim to prevent the documentation of their unprofessional behavior, especially given that it was made after incidents at this location that garnered significant public attention?” the NGO asked.

They also believe that the police demonstrated unprofessionalism yesterday when officers attempted to confiscate Radosavljevic's phone without a court order, refused to identify themselves, and violated several procedures they are obliged to follow.

“The New Social Initiative strongly condemns this detention, although it does not find it surprising given the prevailing atmosphere in northern Kosovo, where citizens increasingly fear being detained without any reason. The current level of mistrust between citizens and the police is unsustainable and requires urgent measures to reduce tensions. Further securitization of the integration of the Serbian community—an issue that is fundamentally political—opens the door to new security problems and will certainly not lead to sustainable political solutions,” the New Social Initiative stated.