Spahiu: No one prevents Serbs from joining the police, but the law prevents return of those who left

Political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu stated that no one prevents Serbs from being employed in the Kosovo Police, but Kosovo's laws prohibit the return of officers who resigned on November 5, 2022.

"Recruitment for Serbs in the Kosovo Police is always open, but those who once served and turned in their uniforms cannot reapply. According to Kosovo law, if a police officer gives up their uniform once, they cannot return to the force. This is not the case with judges or prosecutors who resigned, as the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils have not accepted their resignations, so their employment status is currently 'frozen,'" Spahiu explained to Kosovo Online.

Spahiu emphasizes the importance of aligning the composition of the police with the ethnic makeup of the local community, which is currently not the case in northern Kosovo.

"It is desirable for the police in a given community to reflect the ethnic composition of that community, which is not the case in northern Kosovo for now. However, we hope it will be in the future. When the pressures to reject the Kosovo Police cease, this structure will also be ensured. However, the Serbian state insists on the return of officers who previously served, which is now impossible. For this reason, they do not allow other members of the Serbian community to apply and take those positions," Spahiu claimed.

At the same time, he does not believe that Pristina's refusal to reinstate Serbian police officers indicates a reluctance to include Serbs in the Kosovo Police.

"I don't think there are any obstacles for Serbs to join the Kosovo Police. Anyone who wishes to join can complete the six-month course, or however long it lasts, and become employed. Positions are open because since the Serbian police officers resigned in the north, the Kosovo Police budget has been strained due to the need to deploy officers from other areas to perform tasks and maintain law and order," Spahiu concluded.