The Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia has confirmed that a citizen of Kosovo was arrested on July 17, based on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia.

"On 17.07.2024 at 16:00 at the Jazhinca border crossing, upon entering the country, police officials detained BR (47 years old) from Kosovo as during the passport control it was found that he was registered with "Apsi" at the request of Serbia and he has been handed over to the authorities in Tetovo for further actions", said the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia.

The news about the ban on the citizen from Kosovo was first announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in Kosovo.

"We are talking about Mr. Blerim Ramadani, former member of the Operational Zone of Nerodime of the Kosovo Liberation Army", said the Ministry of Justice.

The arrest was made at the Jaznica-Glloboqica border crossing, which connects Kosovo with North Macedonia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the ambassador of Kosovo in North Macedonia is engaging in this case and the authorities are working to ensure the quick release of Blerim Ramadani.

Finally, the authorities in Serbia have also arrested four citizens of Kosovo, whom Belgrade has accused of war crimes.

The Kosovar authorities have described as arbitrary and unjust the arrest of Kosovar citizens in Serbia for these charges and have requested the help of the international factor for their release.

At the beginning of July, the Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, through a letter sent to her Serbian counterpart, requested the transfer of Kosovo citizens who are being held in Serbia.

However, Haxhiu stated that it is unlikely that Serbia will respond to the request of the Kosovar authorities for the extradition of the citizens of Kosovo, due to the ongoing legal non-cooperation.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has stated that his country has internationally recognized jurisdiction over the treatment of crimes committed within its territory.

Serbia, in its 2021-2026 national war crimes prosecution strategy, claims it has jurisdiction to bring justice to crimes committed during armed conflicts in the 90s.

Kosovo and Serbia reached an Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in 2013, with the mediation of the European Union, but there has been almost no cooperation between them in cases of war crimes./Alsat.M/