Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Violent arrest operation in Serbian villages of Crkolez and Osojane in Istok municipality

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija said that three Serbs, Zikica Belosevic, Grujica Belosevic and Obrad Tijanic, were detained this morning in the Serbian villages of Crkolez and Osojane, in Istok municipality. It added that searches in Crkolez were continuing and that police were stationed near several other Serbian homes.

“Members of Kurti’s police carried out a violent arrest operation this morning in the Serbian villages of Crkolez and Osojane, in the Istok municipality of Metohija. The so-called Kosovo Police blocked these villages in Metohija with SUVs and armed officers and detained Zikica Belosevic, who lives in Crkolez. Searches in this Serbian village are still ongoing, and police are stationed near several other Serbian homes. According to the latest information from the field, Grujica Belosevic and Obrad Tijanic, both from Crkolez, have also been detained,” the statement said.

It added that Belosevic, who was detained, is the father of three minor children.

“Since the 1999 conflict, he has neither left Kosovo and Metohija nor abandoned his home, because he had no reason to hide. He was detained at his workplace, at a kindergarten in Osojane, causing distress among the children and colleagues who were present. He has been provided with legal assistance, which will also be arranged for the other detainees, while our representatives on the ground are in contact with their families. Kurti is deliberately carrying out his campaign of terror against Serbs in Metohija, where our people have suffered greatly and endured ethnic cleansing, because he does not want peace or a reduction in tensions, but rather intimidation and the renewed expulsion of Serbs, which is taking place before the eyes of the international community,” the statement said.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija added that it would inform international representatives about the case.

“The Office for Kosovo and Metohija will inform relevant international representatives about Kurti’s campaign of terror and institutional violence, calling on them to urgently engage, within their respective mandates, in protecting Serbs and ensuring respect for and protection of their human rights,” the statement concluded.