“No indications crime was ethnically motivated”

The Kosovo Police Service (KPS) has no indication that the murder of two Serb civilians in Kosovo was etnically motivated. The bodies of Trajanka and Bogdan Petkovic, who were found dead in their home in the village of Partes, near Gnjilane, on Friday, were transfered to Pristina so that an autopsy could be performed. “No indications crime was ethnically motivated” Their bodies were found by a neighbor on Friday, who then informed the police. Blood was found next to the bodies. According to the autopsy, the two were killed by shots from a firearms, according to experts from the Forensic Institute in Pristina. KPS officials stated that there are no indications that the crimes were ethnically motivated, while Serb government officials are insisting on a complete investigation, stating that tensions should not be heightened without need. “After the results of the autopsy, we can be sure that murder was in question. Police suspect that both victims died from gunshot wounds they suffered,” KPS spokesperson Alber Beka said. He said that he cannot give any more information regarding the crime, because the investigation is still ongoing. “So far, the indications that the investigators have show that this was not a crime that was ethnically motivated,” Beka said. The investigation is being led by the Kosovo police and is being overseen by EULEX. The situation in Partes is currently calm, though the number of KPS officers in the village has been increased. Serbian State Secretary for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic said that tensions should not be increased regarding the situation. He also called on the KPS to speed up its investigation. He said that there should be no speculation regarding the motive behind the double murder, and that police should be given enough time to investigate the case. “But is must be done fast. In the last 15-20 days, three cars were stolen in that village, but the police did not give any statements regarding that. That does not work in their favor and increases suspicions of whether this case will be solved,” Ivanovic said. “The information I received from the KPS is that they had contact with Albanians, regarding something, but I still would not speculate. I would say that it was a business contact, because there is almost no friendly contact between Serbs and Albanians,” Ivanovic said. Bogdanovic doesn’t believe Kosovo police Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic condemned the “murder of the married couple,” adding that he expects the case to be investigated by an objective international group. “The murder of the Petkovics should be condemned and that is something that, unfortunately, is a consequence of years of events in Kosovo,” Bogdanovic told B92. Bogdanovic said that a possibility exists that the murder of the Serb couple was ethnically motivated. He said that it is very important to find out who perpetrated the crime, but that the Serbian government does not have any authority in Kosovo's police or courts. Bogdanovic said that he does not believe the Kosovo police because there are many crimes committed against Serbs that have never been solved. It is still not know who killed Slobodan, Radmila and Ljubinka Stolic in their home in Obilic, which was burned afterwards, he reminded, adding that other murders in Gracko and Gorazdevac have not been solved either.

“No indications crime was ethnically motivated”

Their bodies were found by a neighbor on Friday, who then informed the police. Blood was found next to the bodies.

According to the autopsy, the two were killed by shots from a firearms, according to experts from the Forensic Institute in Priština.

KPS officials stated that there are no indications that the crimes were ethnically motivated, while Serb government officials are insisting on a complete investigation, stating that tensions should not be heightened without need.

“After the results of the autopsy, we can be sure that murder was in question. Police suspect that both victims died from gunshot wounds they suffered,” KPS spokesperson Alber Beka said.

He said that he cannot give any more information regarding the crime, because the investigation is still ongoing.

“So far, the indications that the investigators have show that this was not a crime that was ethnically motivated,” Beka said.

The investigation is being led by the Kosovo police and is being overseen by EULEX. The situation in Parteš is currently calm, though the number of KPS officers in the village has been increased.

Serbian State Secretary for Kosovo Oliver Ivanović said that tensions should not be increased regarding the situation. He also called on the KPS to speed up its investigation.

He said that there should be no speculation regarding the motive behind the double murder, and that police should be given enough time to investigate the case.

“But is must be done fast. In the last 15-20 days, three cars were stolen in that village, but the police did not give any statements regarding that. That does not work in their favor and increases suspicions of whether this case will be solved,” Ivanović said.

“The information I received from the KPS is that they had contact with Albanians, regarding something, but I still would not speculate. I would say that it was a business contact, because there is almost no friendly contact between Serbs and Albanians,” Ivanović said.

Bogdanović doesn’t believe Kosovo police

Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović condemned the “murder of the married couple,” adding that he expects the case to be investigated by an objective international group.

“The murder of the Petkovićs should be condemned and that is something that, unfortunately, is a consequence of years of events in Kosovo,” Bogdanović told B92.

Bogdanović said that a possibility exists that the murder of the Serb couple was ethnically motivated.

He said that it is very important to find out who perpetrated the crime, but that the Serbian government does not have any authority in Kosovo's police or courts.

Bogdanović said that he does not believe the Kosovo police because there are many crimes committed against Serbs that have never been solved.

It is still not know who killed Slobodan, Radmila and Ljubinka Stolić in their home in Obilić, which was burned afterwards, he reminded, adding that other murders in Gracko and Goraždevac have not been solved either.