Office for Kosovo and Metohija: The persecution of Serbs continues in plain sight of the international community

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija has announced that the arrest of M.D. (28), a native of Babin Most and resident of North Mitrovica, marks a continuation of the persecution of Serbs in plain sight of the international community.

"Kurti's police today detained M.D. (28), originally from Babin Most and residing in North Mitrovica, on alleged charges of participating in protests in front of the Zvecan municipal building in May 2023. This represents a continuation of the persecution of Serbs, as despite international assurances that members of the Serbian community would not be arrested for expressing political dissatisfaction, Pristina has arbitrarily arrested a large number of people," the statement reads.

It adds that some detainees remain imprisoned, with many subjected to both physical and psychological torture.

"Another name has been added to the list of Serbian political prisoners today, and the international community has been unable to devise effective methods of pressure for the past year and a half to deter Kurti's regime from its intention to use violence and coercion to force Serbs to leave Kosovo and Metohija. Kurti's Gestapo-like methods of persecuting Serbs in the northern part of the province have become part of daily political practice in Kosovo and Metohija. These actions are a stain on the conscience of those who possess the means and tools to prevent the systematic deprivation of rights and persecution of the Serbian people, yet, for some reason, choose not to act," the statement continues.

The Office appeals to the international presence on the ground:

"Therefore, we once again call on the international presence in the region to take more decisive steps to halt the violence and unilateral actions carried out by Kurti's regime and to compel Pristina to abandon its destabilizing path and return to the process of normalizing relations," concludes the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.