More arrested in Kosovo, the police withdrew from the north of the country

Members of the ROSU special unit raided the Bošnjačka Mahala settlement and arrested a member of the KPS of Serbian nationality in the "Beograđanka" building. Arrests were also made in other parts of northern Kosovo, and in Zubin Potok, one KPS police officer, a Serb, was arrested.
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Air raid sirens were heard in the north of Kosovo, Photo: Rtklive.com
Air raid sirens were heard in the north of Kosovo, Photo: Rtklive.com
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.
Ažurirano: 28.05.2019. 08:15h

The Kosovo police started an operation in the north of Kosovo this morning around six o'clock, in which several people were arrested.

As stated by the Kosovo police, several police officials and citizens were arrested.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, ordered all units of the Serbian Army to be put on full combat readiness.

On the "News" portal, follow the LiveBlog with the latest events from Kosovo.

May 28, 2019, 20:04 a.m
The United Nations announced that a Russian citizen, a member of the UN Mission in Kosovo, who was arrested in this morning's police operation in the north of Kosovo, was released from the hospital, and called for the immediate release of another member of UNMIK, a Kosovo citizen. UN spokesman Farhan Haq said that the two were injured during this morning's operation and that the Russian is being interrogated after being released from the hospital. The Kosovo police announced that five policemen and six civilians were injured during the operation against organized crime and corruption, which primarily targeted other members of the police. Hak said that Unmik is concerned about the imprisonment of his associates "who were performing their duties".
May 28, 2019, 19:52 a.m
May 28, 2019, 19:44 a.m
Today in Zubina potok
Today in Zubina potok author: Reuters
May 28, 2019, 19:43 a.m
Director of the Kosovo Police, Rashid Čalaj, said at the press conference after the action in the north of Kosovo that during the removal of the barricade, the police officers encountered a UN vehicle that was at the barricade and in which were an UNMIK official and a local worker employed in that mission. .
Later, the Kosovo police announced that the detained UNMIK official had been released, while the other person was in custody.
May 28, 2019, 19:43 a.m
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Bedzet Pacoli, called on UNMIK representatives to explain the presence of a Russian member of that mission at the barricade near Zubin Potok during today's police action in the north of Kosovo.
"During the operation in the north of Kosovo, the police arrested an international official of UNMIK, a Russian citizen, and a local employee of the UN mission. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review the case based on the provisions of international law," said Pacoli and was reported by the Pristina media.
May 28, 2019, 18:50 a.m
President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said today that Kosovo is committed to strengthening good neighborly relations. "The dialogue should continue without conditions, with the support of all the Quinte countries with the role of the US being irreplaceable in that process," Thaci said during a meeting with the acting director of the US State Secretariat for Southern and Central European Affairs, Suzana Falatko.
May 28, 2019, 18:40 a.m

Maja Kocijančić, spokeswoman for the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini, confirmed that European officials in contact with the leaders of Pristina and Belgrade appealed for maximum restraint. She stressed that the police operation conducted in Mitrovica and other locations in Kosovo was in accordance with court orders and should have been carried out in accordance with the law.

"Police operations should enable trust in the rule of law. Such operations should strengthen efforts for normalization, not weaken them," stated Kocijaničić. She emphasized that the EU institutions "firmly believe that police and judicial cooperation of all actors is needed, while respecting the Brussels Agreement".

May 28, 2019, 18:38 a.m
The KFOR mission announced that today's operation in the north of Kosovo was "exclusively a police operation" and that the Kosovo Security Forces "nor any other military forces were deployed in the north of Kosovo". following an arrest warrant issued by a court in Pristina in connection with a corruption investigation.
May 28, 2019, 17:15 a.m
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that 28 people were arrested in today's operation: 19 policemen and nine citizens. Of those 19 police officers, 11 are Serbs, seven Albanians and one Bosniak.
"Twelve were arrested from the north, seven from the south, and all nine citizens are Serbs from Zubina Potok, ordinary citizens who opposed them near the town of Varage," Vučić said in the Assembly.
May 28, 2019, 16:41 a.m
Detail from Zubina potok
Detail from Zubina potok author: Reuters
May 28, 2019, 16:41 a.m
Detail from Zubina potok
Detail from Zubina potok author: Reuters
May 28, 2019, 16:41 a.m
Detail from Zubina potok
Detail from Zubina potok author: Reuters
May 28, 2019, 15:52 a.m
The Alliance for Serbia (SZS) assessed today that the latest events in Kosovo and Metohija are the result of Aleksandar Vučić's failed policy, but also that they look a lot like the joint direction of Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Ramuš Haradinaj, which will not bring anything good to the Serbian or Albanian people. his 'businessmen' from the balcony of the Parliament of Serbia vigorously applaud him, in the north of Kosovo Vučić and his coalition partners Ramuš Haradinaj and Hashim Thaci are pushing the Kosovo police against the Serbian people. list. Where are Marko Đurić and Goran Rakić now to defend and protect the people?", the SZS said in a statement. The SZS asked the international community, especially KFOR, to protect Serbs in Kosovo and prevent violence and conflict escalation.
May 28, 2019, 15:36 a.m
During today's police action in the north of Kosovo, 19 people were arrested, of which 11 were Serbs, four were Albanians and four were Bosniaks, it was said at a press conference of the Special Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo and the Kosovo Police (PK).
Special prosecutor Sulj Hodža said that the prosecution heard and took statements from a significant number of witnesses, whose testimony contributed to today's action.
"After one year of activity and evidence collection, the prosecution requested permission from the Basic Court in Pristina to control suspicious houses and bars," he said.
Hodža said that among those arrested were members of the PK from the ranks of the Serbian, Albanian and Bosniak communities.
Director of the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, Miradije Keljmendi, said that in cooperation with the PK, they applied the operational plan from the order of the Basic Court for the detention of several police officers in the northern part of Kosovo.
"The detainees are suspected of criminal acts of illegal trade in goods, abuse of official authority and participation or organization of a criminal group," Keljmendi said, adding that searches were conducted at 12 locations during the operation.
She said that one PK captain, three ensigns and other police officers were arrested. Various items that will serve as evidence were seized, such as weapons, technological equipment and a certain amount of money.
Keljmendi said that the investigation is continuing and that the decision of the prosecutor ordered a detention of 48 hours for all detainees and all detained police officers were suspended.
Director of the Kosovo Police, Rasid Čalaj, said that the operation was successful, that two people were wounded by firearms, while three more people were injured, all members of the PK.
According to him, six civilians who were gathered and set up barricades in Zubin Potok were injured.
During the search of the location, the police confiscated 11 weapons.
He said that a member of UNMIK, a Russian, and his associate, a local official, were detained because they were part of the barricades in Zubin Potok with an UNMIK vehicle.
May 28, 2019, 15:19 a.m
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Behdžet Pacoli, today called on Serbia not to politicize the large-scale police action against crime and smuggling in the north of Kosovo.

He said that today's action is aimed at arresting a network that deals with smuggling, bribery, abuse of official positions and other activities of organized crime.

"Kosovo police are conducting an operation in northern Kosovo to arrest Kosovo citizens, including police officers who are part of a network that was deeply involved in smuggling, bribery, abuse of official positions and other organized crime activities," Pacoli wrote on Facebook.

May 28, 2019, 14:40 a.m
Agency Tanjug announced that iA convoy of military vehicles, full of people and equipment, started leaving the barracks of the Serbian Army in Kraljevo just before 14 p.m.
Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin arrived at the barracks, just before the movement of the column, reports Teaching right.
May 28, 2019, 14:13 a.m
Two Serbs, wounded this morning in Zubina Potok, are stable and out of danger, deputy director of KBC Kosovska Mitrovica Dr. Zlatan Elek told Tanjug.
May 28, 2019, 13:37 a.m
Portal Insider announced that among the arrested are police officers Zenel Bahtiri, Ramadan Rustemi, Ali Plana, Jasna Dorović, Albert Majjuni, Redžet Kući, Krista Subotić, Milja Milenović, Besim Merovci, Biljan Medelković, Veroljub Dimitrović, Dejan Spasojević, Božidar Milosavović, Zvezdan Spasojević. , Abdurahim Hodžić, Oliver Kuzmanović, Ana Božović Barać and Blagoje Lazović and Ilir R.
They state that nine citizens were also arrested.
Portal Insider states that the action was preceded by a months-long investigation, led by the Special Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo, which resulted in well-founded suspicions that some police officers and some citizens participated in the "organization of a criminal group in connection with other criminal acts such as smuggling of goods, abuse official position, bribery, prohibited trade...".
May 28, 2019, 13:31 a.m
After this morning's arrest operation carried out by members of the ROSU special unit, the north of Kosovo is calm, but tense, Beta agency reports.
It is uncertain what will happen until the end of the day, so the citizens are gathered in groups in the cities.

There were no classes in schools in Kosovska Mitrovica today.

May 28, 2019, 13:22 a.m
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said in the Assembly of that country that the major Western powers reacted and said that the action of the Kosovo special forces had nothing to do with the fight against corruption, but that it was about exceeding the measures.
He, as reported by RTS, assumes that the Kosovo units withdrew after a warning from the Western powers.
May 28, 2019, 12:57 a.m
Police operations must not weaken efforts for normalization and must have the trust of all communities in Kosovo, said EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijančič.
The Russian MFA assesses that this is another provocation by Pristina, reports Tanjug.
May 28, 2019, 12:36 a.m

KTV television reports that the arrested have been remanded in custody for up to 48 hours.

May 28, 2019, 12:27 a.m
May 28, 2019, 12:14 a.m
The President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veselji, said that no one will avoid the rule of law.
He congratulated the police "for their courage and professionalism".
"I assure you that Kosovo is a state of all citizens regardless of ethnicity and religion and remains committed to protecting the rights and interests of all citizens wherever they live," Veselji wrote, among other things, on his Facebook account.
May 28, 2019, 12:12 a.m
RTK reports that the action of special police units in Zubin Potok has ended. In that place, several people were arrested and several Kosovo police officers were injured.
May 28, 2019, 12:06 a.m
May 28, 2019, 12:04 a.m
May 28, 2019, 11:57 a.m
The situation in Kosovo this morning
AP
May 28, 2019, 11:54 a.m
May 28, 2019, 11:53 a.m
Kosovo television KTV announced that dozens of armored vehicles and cars of the Kosovo police have been withdrawn from the north of the country.
May 28, 2019, 11:46 a.m
KFOR Commander Italian General Lorenzo D'Adario, due to the "political sensitivity of the moment", called on all parties in Kosovo to resolve disputes peacefully and responsibly, without any use of force or violence.
"People should remain calm, they have nothing to be afraid of," said the Kfor official statement.
May 28, 2019, 11:38 a.m

One Kosovo policeman was wounded by a firearm and several others were injured "in a scuffle" during today's action in the north of Kosovo, the spokesperson of the Kosovo Police, Baki Keljani, told the Beta agency.

Keljani said that the final information about this will be known at the press conference that the police will hold after the end of the operation

May 28, 2019, 11:33 a.m
Television journalist Prva Zoran Maksimović was attacked near Zubina Potok, reports Tanjug.
According to information from that television, ROSU members stopped Maksimović and damaged his car.
May 28, 2019, 10:59 a.m
"If there is any serious threat to order and the lives of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, the Serbian Army will protect the people," said Vučić.
He confirmed that military and police units are on full alert.
May 28, 2019, 10:57 a.m
May 28, 2019, 10:53 a.m
Vučić said that he spoke to representatives of the EU and NATO, who, as he said, informed him that they do not interfere in matters "of a police nature and the fight against organized crime."
May 28, 2019, 10:53 a.m
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said in the Serbian Parliament that 23 persons of Serbian and Bosniak nationality have been arrested so far in the operation in Pristina.
"Kosovo special forces invaded the north of Kosovo with a total of 73 vehicles," said Vučić.
May 28, 2019, 10:48 a.m

Several citizens of Zubin Potok were injured, presumably by rubber bullets, and the police also threw stun grenades, Kossev reports unofficial information from the field.

The Kosovo police previously confirmed that there was "armed resistance" in the North and the wounding of a member of the Kosovo police, but they did not specify the place where it happened.

Kossev also stated that the helicopter flew over the north of Kosovo.

May 28, 2019, 10:47 a.m
"Strengthening the rule of law is an essential interest of our country and region. Organized crime and smuggling represent a direct threat to common progress and we should not base it on ethnic decay or any other basis," Haradinaj wrote on his Facebook profile.
May 28, 2019, 10:44 a.m
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramuš Haradinaj called on the Government of Serbia not to undermine Kosovo's efforts in the fight against organized crime.
May 28, 2019, 10:38 a.m
The Kosovo police announced that nine policemen who were arrested in the north of Kosovo were brought to Pristina to the building of the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo.
It is recalled that policemen of Albanian, Serbian and Bosniak nationality were arrested in the operation.
May 28, 2019, 10:37 a.m
The activity of armored vehicles was observed in the barracks of the Serbian Army in Kraljevo, reports RTS.
May 28, 2019, 10:20 a.m

After several months of investigation, an action was taken to arrest persons suspected of abuse of official duties and smuggling, Kosovo Customs announced, N1 reports.

Four customs officials and seven citizens were arrested and it was announced that the action would follow.

May 28, 2019, 10:18 a.m
Police action is still ongoing.
May 28, 2019, 10:18 a.m

Kosovo police have confirmed arrests in several regions of Kosovo.

Policemen of different nationalities were arrested: Serbs, Bosniaks, Albanians.

"The police operation in several regions, including Zvečan, Zubin Potok, Leposavić, North Mitrovica, South Mitrovica and Drenas, resulted in the arrest of several suspected citizens and police officers," the Kosovo police said.

"Due to the barricades and obstacles that obstructed police actions, several citizens in Sjverna Mitrovica were brought to the police station," the announcement states.

May 28, 2019, 10:08 a.m
Kosovo this morning
Kosovo this morning author: Twitter
May 28, 2019, 10:02 a.m
As RTS announced, the movement of the Serbian Army and Police towards Kosovo was observed.
May 28, 2019, 09:56 a.m
Kfor confirmed that the operation of the Kosovo Police is underway, which is taking place in the whole of Kosovo on the order of the Prosecutor's Office in Pristina.
"For now, we are monitoring the situation, we are in contact with the authorities in Pristina, but we are also open to communications with Serbia," said KFOR spokesman Vincenzo Grasso.

According to him, it is a police action that happened in the past.

He also commented on the position of Serbian officials that KFOR should do something about the actions of the Kosovo special forces. "This has been discussed before, we do not interfere in the actions of the police, until they ask us to intervene," Grasso said.

May 28, 2019, 09:46 a.m
Koha dirote reports that around 30 people were arrested in the action of the Kosovo police and that among them are police officers, policemen and customs officials.
Koha states that four customs officials and seven smugglers were arrested in Prizren.
Allegedly, a larger quantity of goods was also seized, but it is not stated which.
May 28, 2019, 09:44 a.m
Two police officers were hospitalized after today's action in the north of Kosovo.
The director of the hospital, Zahir Musa, said that one police officer was placed in the surgical ward and that his life was out of danger.
He said that the other policeman suffered only scratches and that after therapy he will be released to home care.
May 28, 2019, 09:42 a.m
RTS reports that the session of the National Security Council of Serbia is in progress.
May 28, 2019, 09:36 a.m
Burning tires in Zupče
Burning tires in Zupče author: Twitter
May 28, 2019, 09:33 a.m
RTS reports that in Zubin Potok, ROSU members broke through three barricades set up by Serbs. The installation of the fourth barricade is in progress, and shots were also heard.
May 28, 2019, 09:31 a.m
The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, gathered all the security structures in Kosovo. As reported by RTK, the police director and heads of judicial institutions came to the president's chancellery.
May 28, 2019, 09:30 a.m
This morning in the north of Kosovo
This morning in the north of Kosovo author: BIRN/Twitter
May 28, 2019, 09:25 a.m
In Zubin Potok, the locals set tires on fire on the main road to prevent the Kosovo police from taking away the arrested.
May 28, 2019, 09:24 a.m
May 28, 2019, 09:13 a.m

More than a dozen citizens of Kosovska Mitrovica, mostly young people, set up a barricade with containers towards the eastern bridge, in Knjaza Miloša Street, reports Radio Kontakt plus.

During this action, an RTS cameraman was attacked, and he was prevented from recording this action

May 28, 2019, 09:07 a.m

"The action is the result of a one-month investigation and resulted in the suspicion of the connection of certain police officers and citizens in criminal activities, participation in the organization of a criminal group and other criminal acts. The action is ongoing. As a result of the resistance in North Mitrovica, one police officer was injured, but not in danger to life. Several policemen and citizens were also arrested, and weapons were confiscated," the Kosovo police announced.

May 28, 2019, 09:04 a.m

Kosovo police announced that today's action is not related to the death of Enver Zimmeri and Oliver Ivanovic.

May 28, 2019, 08:57 a.m
Koha Ditore reports, citing police sources, that around 400 police officers and customs investigators are involved in anti-smuggling activities throughout the territory of Kosovo.
May 28, 2019, 08:52 a.m
May 28, 2019, 08:48 a.m
Kosovapress reports that around 100 Serbs blocked the road to Kosovska Mitrovica in order to prevent the police commander who was arrested in Zubin Potok from being taken away.
May 28, 2019, 08:45 a.m
The Kosovo police announced that they arrested several policemen and civilians in the operation.
May 28, 2019, 08:44 a.m
May 28, 2019, 08:41 a.m
Officials and members of the Serbian List, who are in Belgrade due to the session of the Serbian Parliament dedicated to Kosovo and Metohija, headed to Kosovska Mitrovica this morning, reports RTS.
May 28, 2019, 08:40 a.m
May 28, 2019, 08:36 a.m
Đurić told RTS that the situation in the north of Kosovo is dramatic.
"Serbia called to prevent this scenario," said Đurić and added that Serbia had warned about this scenario even before.
He said that ROSU entered the north of Kosovo with the aim of "intimidating, scaring and creating an impossible climate".
Đurić said that ROSU units entered the north of Kosovo at 6 a.m.
May 28, 2019, 08:35 a.m
Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đurić, said that the entry of armed Kosovo police units ROSU in the north of Kosovo is playing with peace.
May 28, 2019, 08:35 a.m
Due to the intrusion of ROSU armed units in the north of Kosovo, RTS reports that special units of the MUP are also on full alert.
May 28, 2019, 08:35 a.m
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić ordered all units of the Serbian Army to be put on full combat readiness, reports RTS.

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