Pasalic: The Serbs are being tortured in Kosovo; nobody but Serbia is reacting to it

The Protector of Citizens, Zoran Pasalic, said today that the situation in which the Serbs in Kosovo found themselves was bad, because they were being tortured, and no one reacted to it, that is, the state of Serbia dealt with it exclusively.

"The situation in Kosovo and Metohija is bad, and that is the mildest expression I can use because the Serbs are subjected to torture, according to all definitions of torture, they are subjected to physical and psychological suffering, and everything that must not be done, according to any declaration or convention, to a single human being," Pasalic told RTS.

In addition, they are denied various rights and freedoms, which are guaranteed by numerous declarations and conventions, including the rights from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948.

When asked what his options were for reacting, Pasalic said that there was no dispute regarding the jurisdiction regarding cruel, inhuman, humiliating behavior, and everything that was carried out against the Serbs and the non-Albanian population.

"The question of jurisdiction is not the problem, based on all declarations and conventions; it is the obligation of all of us, not only in Serbia but international institutions in general. But, unfortunately, the protection of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is exclusively and solely handled by Serbia. There was no reaction from institutions, organizations, and associations that nominally or effectively deal with the protection of human rights and the prevention of torture," Pasalic emphasized.

He reported that the institution headed by him had sent several letters to the relevant institutions in Europe and the world, in order to inform them about what was happening in Kosovo.

Thus, the International Committee of the Red Cross had been asked to answer the question in which direction it will act, Pasalic said, adding that the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture had also been informed about what was happening throughout Kosovo, primarily to the Serbs and non-Albanians.

It has already been 10 days, and we will contact every single institution that deals with the protection of human rights in Europe and the world, to inform them about the facts.

When asked what he expected in the coming period, he replied that something had to happen, because the situation was unsustainable and had to change.

"We are asking for help from the organizations and institutions that deal with the protection of human rights. It is in the description of their competencies, their basic activities - to deal with the protection of human rights. They have to do it because if they remain silent, then they are not dealing with what they are determined to do," Pasalic said.