THREE SERBS DETAINED, PRIŠTINA POLICE BLOCK OFF VILLAGES IN ISTOK MUNICIPALITY

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 29 /SRNA/ - Three Serbs have been detained in a violent operation by Kosovo police, which blocked off the Serb villages of Crkolez and Osojane in the municipality of Istok, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said.

The Office said that Žikica Belošević from Crkolez had been detained at his workplace at a kindergarten in Osojane, and the latest information from the ground indicated that residents of the village, Grujica Belošević and Obrad Tijanić, had also been detained. The detention of Žikica Belošević at his workplace disturbed the children and his colleagues, the Office said. “Belošević, who was detained, is the father of three minor children and has not left Kosovo and Metohija or his home since the 1999 conflict, as he has no reason to hide,” the Office said in a statement. Searches are still underway, and police are near several Serb homes. Office representatives are also on the ground and are in contact with the families of those detained, who will be provided with legal assistance. It was stressed that Albin Kurti was deliberately carrying out a campaign of terror against Serbs in Metohija, where the Serb population suffered greatly and endured ethnic cleansing. The Office assessed that Kurti did not want peace or a de-escalation of tensions, but rather intimidation and a new wave of expulsions of Serbs, carried out before the eyes of the international community. The Office will inform relevant international representatives about Kurti’s campaign of terror and institutional violence, calling on them to urgently intervene to protect Serbs and ensure respect for their human rights.