Petkovic: Latest in series of arrests a continuation of persecution of Kosovo Serbs

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Friday the latest in a series of arrests of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija was a continuation of Pristina PM Albin Kurti's policy of persecution of the Serb population.

Former police officer Zoran Mihajlovic was arrested by Pristina on war crimes charges earlier in the day.

"Another policeman, Sladjan Trajkovic, was arrested on Thursday. You get Kurti's idea - a literal persecution of our people and revenge against the Serbs, especially those who have left all of Pristina's institutions in the north of Kosovo-Metohija," Petkovic told reporters.

Serbs in the north of Kosovo-Metohija are being targeted by institutional as well as physical attacks on a daily basis, he said, noting that Dejan Pantic, who is also a former Kosovo Police officer, was in detention after being arrested on Saturday but that his whereabouts were still unknown.

It remains unclear whether Pantic, a serious cardiac patient, has received medication for his condition.

"A statement by the EULEX chief that he does not know anything about Pantic is absolutely scandalous. The only thing we know is that he is alive," Petkovic said.

In keeping with the rule of law he is invoking, Kurti should ensure all rights to Pantic, rather than get people arrested, Petkovic said.

He recalled that Serb Miljan Adzic had also been arrested before Pantic's detention.

"When you add to all that all the other things that are taking place in the north of Kosovo-Metohija, including a raid at Gazivode Lake, the tearing of a Serbian flag by the Kosovo police and attacks on our people in the streets, it is clear what Kurti wants," Petkovic said.

He added that, earlier in the day, Pristina's police had banned Elektrokosmet staff from working on a Brnjak electric pylon, leaving 150 residents of six villages without electricity.

"Albin Kurti now also wants to cause a humanitarian disaster for our people," Petkovic said.

All that is a reflection of Kurti's rule, Petkovic said, adding that Kosovo-Metohija Serbs had been forced to put up barricades to defend their bare lives in a democratic and peaceful way.