Sixth day of protests over the arrest of directors of educational and healthcare institutions in central Kosovo

Protests in support of the arrested directors continued today in all healthcare and educational institutions in the territory of the municipality of Gracanica.

This is the sixth day that employees of institutions in central Kosovo have been expressing their dissatisfaction through peaceful protests over the arrest of seven Serbs.

Our team visited this morning the Health Center in Donja Gusterica, where a large number of employees gathered at 9 a.m. in support of the arrested directors, including the director of this institution, Sasa Mladenovic.

The Municipal Assembly of Gracanica adopted at yesterday’s session a Declaration requesting that competent institutions allow the detained councilors and directors of educational and healthcare institutions to defend themselves while at liberty, with respect for fundamental human rights and the principles of a fair trial.

The Declaration was adopted at the proposal of councilors from the Serb List.

The document condemns “injustice, politically motivated procedures, and pressure carried out against innocent people whose only offense is that they performed their work honorably and responsibly in the interest of citizens.”

Support gatherings in front of educational and healthcare institutions have been taking place since Wednesday, May 20, and, as announced, will continue until the arrested directors are released.

On May 21, the Basic Court in Pristina ordered up to 30 days of detention for the seven arrested directors of Serbian educational and healthcare institutions from the municipality of Gracanica.