Sentic: I have opened an ex officio case into the Kosovo Police's treatment of Raskovic

Kosovo's Principal Deputy Ombudsperson Srdjan Sentic said that last night, acting ex officio in accordance with his constitutional powers and the Law on the Ombudsperson, he opened a case concerning allegations about the conduct of Kosovo Police officers toward Nenad Raskovic from the village of Dren in the municipality of Zubin Potok.

"Allegations of physical abuse, being tied to a tree, beatings and the possible use of force to extract a confession, as well as information about bodily injuries sustained, require an urgent and comprehensive determination of all the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident," Sentic told Kosovo Online.

According to him, if it is established that Raskovic was beaten by the Kosovo Police, this could indicate torture and inhuman treatment.

"If confirmed, these allegations could indicate elements of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, that is, forms of treatment that are absolutely prohibited by the Constitution and relevant international instruments, without exception," he said.

Sentic stressed that the aim of the investigation is to determine whether the police officers acted in accordance with the law and whether a violation of human rights occurred.

"The aim of the investigation is to independently, impartially and effectively establish what exactly happened, who was involved in the incident, and whether the conduct of the police officers was in accordance with the law and human rights protection standards. Throughout the proceedings, the privacy and dignity of the injured party will be protected. Given the seriousness of the allegations, I expect all relevant institutions to become involved in establishing the facts without delay. The public will be informed of the outcome of the investigation to the extent permitted by law," the Deputy Ombudsperson said.