Serbian truck drivers arrested in Kosovo

Trepca Mines Director Jovan Dimkic said 13 Eurokop company’s drivers from Raska, hired by Trepca to transport its products to Switzerland, have been arrested. “The drivers were detained late Wednesday at the customs terminal in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica,” Dimkic told a news conference after a meeting with local officials. Serbian truck drivers arrested in Kosovo Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi stated that the drivers had entered Kosovo illegally and that they would be held in detention for 48 hours based on the public prosecutor’s decision. This was afterwards confirmed by Kosovo police regional Spokesman Besim Hoti, who said that they also suspected the drivers of taking part in setting up the barricades. “Around 20 trucks were investigated. It was determined that the 13 drivers entered the territory of Kosovo illegally, and seven of them have been put in detention in Lipljan, three in Podujevo and three in Vucitrn,” Hoti underlined and confirmed that they would be taken before judge within 48 hours. The Trepca Mines director said earlier that the company management had held an urgent meeting to inform EULEX, the local administration and the Kosovska Mitrovica District head about the case. Dimkic added that Trepca had asked the EU mission in Kosovo to intervene immediately, noting the company's employees and the citizens of Raska have been greatly upset by the arrest. "We got a promise from EULEX that they will try to take over the case from the Kosovo judiciary, as they are aware the arrest is politically motivated," the director pointed out. Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljkovic told a news conference this was a demonstration of power and a continuation of the psychological war against the Serb community in northern Kosovo. "I expect a speedy reaction from the international community, above all EULEX, because they are in charge of the judiciary," he stressed. The administrative line with Kosovo Ministry for Kosovo requests explanation from EULEX Serbian Ministry for Kosovo requested Thursday that EU and EULEX officials state precise reasons for arresting the 13 drivers and take the necessary steps in order to release them. The ministry's officials stated that due to a bias of Kosovo authorities, they asked EULEX to take over the criminal proceedings related to the drivers arrested by the Kosovo police Wednesday evening. “We suspect that Pristina is being one-sided and that they mounted the case, which is confirmed by the fact that the detained drivers did their job without any problems in the days and weeks before the incident, and that the Kosovo authorities did not have any objections in that respect,” the statement reads. The ministry cautioned officials of the international community and EULEX that Pristina has no intention of stopping with provocations which further aggravate the situation and create even greater tensions.

Serbian truck drivers arrested in Kosovo

Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi stated that the drivers had entered Kosovo illegally and that they would be held in detention for 48 hours based on the public prosecutor’s decision. This was afterwards confirmed by Kosovo police regional Spokesman Besim Hoti, who said that they also suspected the drivers of taking part in setting up the barricades.

“Around 20 trucks were investigated. It was determined that the 13 drivers entered the territory of Kosovo illegally, and seven of them have been put in detention in Lipljan, three in Podujevo and three in Vučitrn,” Hoti underlined and confirmed that they would be taken before judge within 48 hours.

The Trepča Mines director said earlier that the company management had held an urgent meeting to inform EULEX, the local administration and the Kosovska Mitrovica District head about the case.

Dimkić added that Trepča had asked the EU mission in Kosovo to intervene immediately, noting the company's employees and the citizens of Raška have been greatly upset by the arrest.

"We got a promise from EULEX that they will try to take over the case from the Kosovo judiciary, as they are aware the arrest is politically motivated," the director pointed out.

Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljković told a news conference this was a demonstration of power and a continuation of the psychological war against the Serb community in northern Kosovo.

"I expect a speedy reaction from the international community, above all EULEX, because they are in charge of the judiciary," he stressed.

Ministry for Kosovo requests explanation from EULEX

Serbian Ministry for Kosovo requested Thursday that EU and EULEX officials state precise reasons for arresting the 13 drivers and take the necessary steps in order to release them.

The ministry's officials stated that due to a bias of Kosovo authorities, they asked EULEX to take over the criminal proceedings related to the drivers arrested by the Kosovo police Wednesday evening.

“We suspect that Priština is being one-sided and that they mounted the case, which is confirmed by the fact that the detained drivers did their job without any problems in the days and weeks before the incident, and that the Kosovo authorities did not have any objections in that respect,” the statement reads.

The ministry cautioned officials of the international community and EULEX that Priština has no intention of stopping with provocations which further aggravate the situation and create even greater tensions.