Pasalic: We are concerned about the position and status of detained Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija

Zoran Pasalic, the Ombudsman of Serbia, held a meeting with Jelena Stijacic, the head of the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Aurelie Gautier, the regional coordinator of the organization, regarding issues concerning the protection of the rights of detained Serbs in Kosovo, as reported by Politika.

According to the Ombudsman's statement, they agreed on continuous communication, and both Pasalic and the representative of the ICRC expressed their concern about the situation and status of the detained Serbs in Kosovo.

"On June 26, Pasalic requested the International Committee of the Red Cross to protect the Serbs arrested in Kosovo from further torture, abuse, and mistreatment and to investigate the actions of the Kosovo Police when taking them to detention centers," the statement added.

The Ombudsman's office conveyed that Pasalic had informed all relevant institutions about the case of the arrested Serbs in Kosovo.

"The Ombudsman has also informed numerous international institutions dealing with human rights protection and prevention of torture about the torture of arrested Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, insisting on full compliance with the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment," the statement further added.

Pasalic also addressed 106 national institutions dealing with human rights protection, of which, as stated in the announcement, he has so far received responses from only three.