Residents of Gracanica: The situation is tense and difficult, the arrest of directors is pressure against us

Residents of Gracanica told Kosovo Online that they see the arrest of directors of healthcare and educational institutions as pressure against the Serbian people, but also that Pristina’s goal is to reduce the number of Serbs as much as possible. They are also not optimistic about the release of those arrested, because, as they say, once the Kosovo authorities arrest someone, they are rarely quick to release them.

Damjan Sabic said that fear can be felt among the people and that the situation is tense.

“I can say that we are all living in some kind of fear, tension prevails among all of us. And when I talk with friends, relatives, and family, I think we all share the same opinion that the situation is truly very tense. I think that is also the goal, that year after year and day after day there should be fewer and fewer of us, so I think this is part of their policy,” Sabic stated.

An elderly resident of Gracanica said he is not optimistic that the arrested directors will be released.

“It has always been like this, and it still is today, that pressure. What can we do, we do not know where we are headed, we are living day to day... It is unlikely they will release them, things are very bad. God forbid they arrest someone. That is my opinion, I do not believe they will release them easily. Those they arrested were not released for a long time. That is pressure. Politicians are behind all of this. The people are not guilty, but the politicians are,” he said.

Another resident, however, hopes someone will resolve the issue.

“Hopefully someone will manage to resolve this. It is not good, but what can we do,” he said.

After the arrest and one-month detention order for seven directors of schools, health centers and the Pristina Clinical Hospital Center headquartered in Gracanica, employees of those and other institutions have been gathering every day in support of those arrested.

Today, the support protest in front of the Pristina-Gracanica Clinical Hospital Center was also joined by Serb List president Zlatan Elek together with around twenty medical technicians from the Clinical Hospital Center in North Mitrovica.