KPS to charge 21 Serbs over checkpoint attacks

The KPS has submitted a list of 21 Serbs suspected of destroying administrative crossing checkpoints on February 19. The Kosovo Police Service (KPS) confirmed for B92 that the Serbs were accused of charges that included terrorist acts. B92 has also received unofficial information that the list includes Serb officials who are suspected of organizing the protests in Brnjak and Jarinje that turned violent two days after Kosovo declared independence unilaterally. KPS to charge 21 Serbs over checkpoint attacks The KPS has called on international prosecutors in Kosovo to indict the 21 Serbs involved. KPS spokesman Veton Elshani told B92 that seven Serbs were accused of setting the border checkpoint in Jarinje on fire, and 14 for destroying the crossing at Brnjak. “These charges were given to the international prosecutor on April 3. They are accused of criminal acts such as terrorism, as well as causing general danger and risking public order in Kosovo. These cases are going to the prosecutors, and we will see with them what to do next. Politics don’t matter to us, because we need to work according to the law,” Elshani stressed. According to police information, several of the accused are Kosovo Serb political leaders. “I cannot confirm this, I can only say that there are 21 suspects for these two cases and I cannot confirm who these people are,” said the KPS spokesman. Serb National Council in North Kosovo President Milan Ivanovic accused the KPS of fabricating trumped-up allegations against Serbs for participating in the violence, in the hope of destabilizing the situation in northern Kosovo. “It is clear that they don’t have any access to what is happening on the territory where Serbs live near the administrative crossings in northern Kosovo, because the Serbian KPS has severed all ties with Pristina, and is cooperating with UNMIK police in accordance with Resolution 1244,” he said. “Does the KPS have information from space, or a satellite, and how did they come upon this information? It is clearly a question of fabricated accusations based on false information, and they are trying to achieve their political goals with these false accusations,” Ivanovic stressed.

KPS to charge 21 Serbs over checkpoint attacks

The KPS has called on international prosecutors in Kosovo to indict the 21 Serbs involved.

KPS spokesman Veton Elshani told B92 that seven Serbs were accused of setting the border checkpoint in Jarinje on fire, and 14 for destroying the crossing at Brnjak.

“These charges were given to the international prosecutor on April 3. They are accused of criminal acts such as terrorism, as well as causing general danger and risking public order in Kosovo. These cases are going to the prosecutors, and we will see with them what to do next. Politics don’t matter to us, because we need to work according to the law,” Elshani stressed.

According to police information, several of the accused are Kosovo Serb political leaders.

“I cannot confirm this, I can only say that there are 21 suspects for these two cases and I cannot confirm who these people are,” said the KPS spokesman.

Serb National Council in North Kosovo President Milan Ivanović accused the KPS of fabricating trumped-up allegations against Serbs for participating in the violence, in the hope of destabilizing the situation in northern Kosovo.

“It is clear that they don’t have any access to what is happening on the territory where Serbs live near the administrative crossings in northern Kosovo, because the Serbian KPS has severed all ties with Priština, and is cooperating with UNMIK police in accordance with Resolution 1244,” he said.

“Does the KPS have information from space, or a satellite, and how did they come upon this information? It is clearly a question of fabricated accusations based on false information, and they are trying to achieve their political goals with these false accusations,” Ivanović stressed.