Serb List: Today's arrests of Serbs represent a new wave of intimidation and persecution

The Serb List stated that today's arrests represent a new wave of intimidation and persecution of Serbs in Strpce and Gnjilane, aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear and exerting additional pressure on the Serbian people.

"Today's arrests of prominent and respected Serbs constitute a new wave of intimidation and persecution of Serbs in Strpce and Gnjilane through the unfounded arrests of our compatriots, with the goal of creating an atmosphere of fear, insecurity, and additional pressure on the Serbian people who have remained living on their ancestral lands," the Serb List said in a statement.

The party emphasized that it is particularly concerning that, for years, individuals who have spent the entire post-war period in Kosovo, built their homes there, raised their families, and lived in full view of everyone, have been detained and accused without valid evidence.

"A logical question arises – does anyone truly believe that a person who committed any crime would remain living in the same place, build a family, and remain available to all institutions for more than two decades?" the Serb List asked.

They also pointed out that the arrest and criminal prosecution of innocent people do not constitute justice and warned that such actions will neither bring peace nor provide satisfaction to the families of victims. On the contrary, they argued, the abuse of the judiciary and a selective approach to justice only deepen mistrust and interethnic tensions.

"What we are witnessing is pure institutional violence and politically motivated pressure on the Serbian people. For years, Pristina has attempted, through such actions, to construct a dangerous narrative according to which every Serb who was of legal age in 1999 can be accused of the most serious criminal offenses without any grounds whatsoever. Such an approach is not based on law and evidence, but on the collective stigmatization of an entire people," the Serb List noted.

The statement further said that the silence of international representatives, who have long remained mute in the face of what it described as the persecution of Serbs, is an additional cause for concern.

"We expect those who are obliged to protect human rights, the rule of law, and equal standards for all citizens to finally react and clearly condemn such actions, which seriously endanger the security and survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija," the Serb List stated.

They added that they will continue to provide all legal and institutional assistance to what they described as unjustly accused compatriots, while demanding "an end to the practice of unfounded arrests in which Serbs are treated as guilty in advance simply because they are Serbs."