Petkovic: Detention ordered for Serbs on Kurti’s direct orders, with Rasic’s assistance

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, stated that the one-month detention ordered for seven Serbs from central Kosovo was imposed on the direct orders of Albin Kurti, with the assistance of Nenad Rasic. He emphasized that this is yet another indication that the Serbian people in Kosovo can rely only on the State of Serbia and the Serb List.

“The one-month detention ordered for seven respected Serbian directors of Serbian healthcare and educational institutions from central Kosovo and Metohija — Bratislav Lazic, Mirjana Dimitrijevic, Sasa Mladenovic, Boban Petrovic, Ljubisa Karadzic, Milica Dimic, and Nebojsa Rasic — was imposed under the direct political orders of Albin Kurti, with the assistance of his loyal subordinate Nenad Rasic, and with three primary objectives: to further target Serbian healthcare and educational institutions, to weaken the Serb List, and to intimidate the Serbian people ahead of the election campaign,” Petkovic said in a statement, adding that Belgrade is in constant communication with all relevant international representatives, demanding the immediate release of the seven Serbs.

He pointed out, however, that Kurti failed to anticipate that the Serbian people demonstrate the greatest unity and strength precisely when it is most needed, which is why, Petkovic believes, they will support the Serb List even more strongly in the elections.

“And the traitor Rasic will be sent where he belongs — to the garbage heap of political history,” he added.
Petkovic also stressed that this is not merely about Kurti’s pre-election nervousness, because he once again seeks to retain power “over the backs” of the Serbian people, having nothing else to offer his voters, but that it is also part of Kurti’s renewed attempt to settle accounts with Serbian healthcare and educational institutions in Kosovo, as a form of revenge for what he failed to accomplish on March 15 of this year.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija emphasized that nowhere in the world are internal administrative procedures used as grounds for arresting directors of crucial institutions, especially since labor relations are clearly regulated by law and conducted in accordance with legal procedures and regulations.

“It is unacceptable for Pristina to interfere in Serbian education and healthcare in Kosovo and Metohija, over which Kurti has no jurisdiction whatsoever, and Nenad Rasic bears direct responsibility for the arrest of the seven Serbian directors and for bringing the so-called Kosovo police into Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija,” Petkovic stated.

He further noted that the directors of educational and healthcare institutions enjoy enormous respect among the Serbian people and their colleagues and are known for performing their duties honorably, professionally, and in accordance with all ethical standards.

“Whereas Rasic and Kurti, through this act, have shown the extent of their moral depravity,” Petkovic underlined.

He concluded by saying that this is yet another indication that the Serbian people in Kosovo can rely only on the State of Serbia and the Serb List.

“That is why we will continue to strongly and decisively support the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. At the same time, we once again stress that everyone whose actions contributed to the detention of the seven directors of Serbian institutions will be prosecuted and criminally charged in accordance with the law,” Petkovic stated.

The Basic Court in Pristina ordered detention of up to one month for seven Serbs, directors of healthcare and educational institutions in Gracanica, who are accused of the criminal offense of “violating the free will of voters.” They were arrested several days ago following allegations made by the acting Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic.