Pressure from Belgrade on Kosovo Serbs, Kurti: There have never been more threats and blackmail
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that the pressure and intimidation being carried out by Belgrade against Kosovo Serbs has been evidenced through complaints made by the Serbs themselves, adding that there has never before been more threatening and blackmail than there is now.
Kurti made these remarks during a press conference when he was asked about the arrest of six Serbs from Gracanica on Tuesday, who are suspected of exerting pressure.
“I believe that the statement by the Minister for Communities and Returns during the Government meeting regarding the heavy pressure being exerted on Kosovo Serbs to vote exclusively for the Serbian List and no one else, as well as the measures Serbia is taking, including monitoring the social media activity of every state official, public figure, and Serbian politician, is truly alarming. This type of pressure being exercised by official Belgrade against Kosovo Serbs is also evidenced through their own complaints. This phenomenon has grown significantly during my time as Prime Minister. There have never been more threats and blackmail. On the other hand, you know that Serbia continuously attempts to maintain its own elements in order to create dual structures within the territory of our Republic, and these are illegal actions within our independent state,” Kurti added, reports KosovaPress.
Regarding the steps being taken toward the establishment of Kosovo’s gendarmerie force, Kurti announced that details would be made public very soon.
He said that the concept document, working group, and all other details would be presented together with acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla.
“The concept document, working group, and all details will be presented very soon. We have been considering this for a long time. All details regarding our idea will be presented together with the Minister of Internal Affairs,” he stated.
Kurti added that the idea of establishing a gendarmerie force has been under consideration for a long time.
