Relatives and friends demand justice for the arrested Trajkovic; neighbor Latifi says that Sladjan is 100 percent innocent

In North Mitrovica, near the monument to Prince Lazar, a protest was held today regarding the request of the Prosecutor's Office in Pristina that the detention of the arrested Sladjan Trajkovic be extended for another two months. Trajkovic is a former member of the Kosovo police, and was arrested on December 15 in North Mitrovica on suspicion of "participating in a war crime."

Lawyer, Dejan Vasic, stated that Sladjan's friends, neighbors, and family members had gathered spontaneously today in order to show the world and everyone that he was a virtuous man.

"This is about a good host, a man who above all took care of equality and helped to ensure that in the neighborhood where he lived, in Bosniak Mahala, there were no problems between Albanians and Serbs; that he lived equally, beautifully, and peacefully with his Albanian neighbors and with the Serbs, and they came together today to support him in this way. They want to show the court before deciding on the continuation of the measure of judicial custody that Trajkovic did not deserve what was happening to him, nor did he do what he was being accused of," Vasic said.

According to him, the court proceedings are currently at the stage of deciding on the request of the Special Prosecutor's Office and the decision should be made today or tomorrow.

"I insisted that his friends gather today so that the court in Pristina, which has to make a decision, would have this picture and keep in mind that with a milder measure, the criminal proceedings can proceed unhindered. What we are asking is that Sladjan be allowed to come home, and fight against those false accusations against him," Vasic said.

Vasic points out that Trajkovic is in a very complex state of health, with his chronic illnesses, with which he came into custody. However, he adds, due to the inadequate conditions of treatment and the space he is staying in, as well as inadequate medical staff, his condition has drastically worsened.

"I think it would be necessary for him to be transferred urgently to the hospital in North Mitrovica in order to, I can freely say, save his life. Having known Sladjan for many years, talking to people who have known him for a long time, I am sure that he absolutely has nothing to do with what he is charged with. I cannot think otherwise than that the court will decide to change his measure to house arrest while the investigation continues," Vasic said.

Trajkovic's wife Suzana thanked everyone who had come to support them.

"Once again, for the umpteenth time, I appeal to KFOR and EULEX, primarily to them. My husband is innocent and I am telling Albin Kurti to think about where his police forces were when the checks were made in 2013. Sladjan was integrated into the Kosovo police; checks were made. How is it possible that a man, who worked for them for nine years, now that he has taken off his uniform, is a war criminal? Sladjan in Bosniak Mahala has the support of all his Albanian neighbors, with the exception that no one is allowed to come out to give him public support because of Kurti's terror; because people are scared," Trajkovic said.

His wife Suzana points out that she is in contact with Sladjan, and points out that he is not feeling well.

"They didn't allow him medicine from Serbia. Last Wednesday we bought pills with a Kosovo stamp, they took them to the porter's office, and however, they didn't deliver the pills to him. They give him some pills, but he eats poorly and has lost a lot of weight and doesn't feel well ", Suzana Trajkovic said.

She points out that they appealed to KFOR and EULEX, but no one listened to them. She thanked the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, emphasizing that they were with him all the time and were doing everything they could.

One of Trajkovic's neighbors, Albanian Arafat Latifi, also came to support his neighbor Sladjan, stressing that he is his comrade and friend.

"I've known Sladjan for 23 years, we went fishing together, we hung out, and I think he was accused in the justice of God. His fellow Albanians came to praise him and I don't know how it is that suddenly someone points a finger at him. And other people who know Sladjan have a similar opinion, but they don't dare to come out and say it, both among the Serbs and among Albanians. I know that he is 100 percent innocent. If he had done something, he should have been arrested 23 years ago; he was here all the time," Latifi said.

Jelena Trajkovic, Sladjan Trajkovic's daughter, pointed out that her father did not have normal conditions for staying in prison.

"They don't allow the lawyer to bring in the power of attorney for my father to sign, for the mother to take the bank card because we can't withdraw his salary, and pay for his canteen. He has no right to treatment, they don't allow him medication and they don't allow him to have a family picture with him. His colleagues gave us support through phone calls, but they did not come here because everyone is afraid that they will be arrested like my father. I am asking the international community to react. We are only looking for justice," Jelena Trajkovic said.

Albanian Shaban Polluzha also spoke about Sladjan Trajkovic at the gathering.

"I know him well. I parted with him. This is for political reasons. He is a good man, a good guy. Both as a neighbor and as a friend, he is a good man. What happened to him is for political reasons. He is an innocent man. And let me say more, politicians should not do that, because he is an innocent man and should not be in prison," Polluzha said.