Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Beating of Lutvia proves new brutality by representatives of Pristina

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija emphasized that the brutal beating of detainee Shaqir Lutvia, a Gorani who lived in central Serbia until his arrest, which took place in the high-security prison in Podujevo, is proof of new levels of brutality from Pristina representatives who demonstrate force daily over Serbs and other non-Albanians subjected to torture.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija reports that yesterday, Lutvia was first harassed by three Albanian guards in the Podujevo prison in the presence of his family, only to be brutally beaten with blows to the head after his family left, as he reported to his attorney and family.

It was also noted that Lutvia was initially denied the right to medical examination and was only sent for one after persistent requests, given that he complained of health consequences due to the mistreatment.

“It is now abundantly clear why the authorities in Pristina do not allow Belgrade’s liaison officer to visit Serbian detainees and verify their health conditions, especially in light of this example of brutality and Pristina’s attempts to conceal such incidents by all means,” the statement reads.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija warns that, unfortunately, indications suggest that Lutvia’s case is not isolated and that other detainees have also been victims of brutality but refrain from speaking out publicly for fear of reprisal. Lutvia’s case has caused great concern among their families and the detainees themselves.

“It is now clear what kind of terror Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija are facing, especially those in Kurti's prisons. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija has repeatedly informed all international missions of the deprivation of their basic rights and inhumane treatment, highlighting that they are denied medical assistance and examinations, along with other human rights violations,” the statement reads.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija recalls that recently, Miloš Subotić from Kosovska Mitrovica was also a victim of police brutality after being detained, and four young men from Kosovska Mitrovica were brutally beaten during detention, with everything documented among countless similar cases.

“For these reasons, we demand that the Serbian liaison officer be allowed to visit detained Serbs and that international missions take this case seriously to ensure the responsible parties are held accountable and to protect other Serbs from any kind of torture,” the Office for Kosovo and Metohija concludes.