Serb List seeks explanation over officers’ return to duty: No question in Raskovic case must remain unanswered

The Serb List has called on the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Kosovo Police to explain who decided, and on the basis of what findings, to reinstate two police officers who had been suspended on suspicion of involvement in the alleged mistreatment of Nenad Raskovic from Dren. It also asked whether the investigation had been completed and, if not, why the officers had been returned to duty before its conclusion.

Responding to reports that the two Kosovo Police officers, who had been suspended on suspicion of involvement in the alleged mistreatment of Nenad Raskovic from Dren, had returned to work after one month, the Serb List said it “expressed disbelief” and demanded a full and public explanation from the competent institutions regarding the reasons and legal basis for the decision.

“It is particularly concerning that, to date, the public has received no clear information about what the Kosovo Police Inspectorate’s investigation has established, what stage the proceedings have reached, or the circumstances on the basis of which the decision was made to end the suspension and return the officers to duty,” the Serb List said.

The statement added that the decision to reinstate the officers, without a full and convincing explanation from the institutions, created the impression within the Serb community that serious allegations of police violence against Serbs were not receiving an adequate institutional response and that such conduct carried no real consequences.

“Precisely for that reason, this case requires maximum transparency and the establishment of individual responsibility through lawful proceedings. We demand that the Police Inspectorate, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Kosovo Police publicly state who made the decision to return these officers to duty and on the basis of what findings, whether the investigation has been completed and, if not, why they were reinstated before its conclusion,” the Serb List said.

It also demanded an explanation from the Prosecutor’s Office regarding the measures taken against the suspects in the case, including whether detention or other measures had been considered or requested during the proceedings and the legal and factual grounds on which such decisions had been made.

“We expect EULEX to present to the public the findings of its monitoring of this case and state whether the return to duty of those responsible for the severe beating and infliction of serious bodily injuries on Nenad Raskovic, coercing a statement and abuse of official position was the appropriate decision by the Police Inspectorate. Under its current mandate, EULEX does not have an executive investigative role, but it monitors the conduct of the police, prosecutors and courts, including sensitive interethnic cases and allegations of police misconduct,” the Serb List recalled.

It also stressed that no question in the Nenad Raskovic case must remain unanswered.

Erduan Baljici, Head of the Operational Planning and Assessment Unit, confirmed to Kosovo Online that the two Kosovo Police officers had returned to work at the police station in North Mitrovica, explaining that the period of suspension previously imposed by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate had expired.

Nenad Raskovic, a Serb from the village of Dren, was seriously injured on August 11 after, according to his account, he was beaten by Kosovo Police officers.

Raskovic was admitted to the Clinical Hospital Center in Kosovska Mitrovica but, due to the severity of his injuries, was transferred to the Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade for treatment.

Following his allegations, the Kosovo Police Inspectorate opened an ex officio investigation and subsequently recommended that the Kosovo Police suspend two officers from the Regional Police Directorate in North Mitrovica on suspicion of the criminal offense of “mistreatment in the exercise of official duties or public authority.”