Serb Forum Calls on EU, OSCE, Quint Embassies to Take Stand on Arrests of Serbs at Gazimestan

BETAPHOTO/ARMENIJA ZAJMI BESEVIC

On June 29, the Serb National Forum of Gracanica condemned the apprehension of dozens of Serbs during a celebration of Vidovdan (St Vitus Day) at the Gazimestan memorial site commemorating the Battle of Kosovo and called on the European Union, the EULEX Mission, the OSCE and the embassies of the Quint countries to take a stand on the actions of the Kosovo police.

The organization said in a press release that the arrests of Serbs at a peaceful assembly were "another in a series of actions through which the regime of [Kosovo Premier] Albin Kurti is systematically exerting institutional pressure on the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija in an attempt to limit their fundamental human, civic and religious rights."

"The assembled citizens were not disrupting public peace and order, were not attacking the police, were not threatening the safety of other participants, nor were they jeopardizing the assembly itself. Even so, after the conclusion of the religious service, the Kosovo police began randomly taking them into custody, leaving the impression that the goal was intimidation, not law enforcement," the press release read.

The Kosovo police said in a press release on June 28 that 37 people were taken into custody over "provocations" during the observance of Vidovdan at Gazimestan. The statement read that the persons taken into custody were "inciting hate with their behavior and statements."