Brussels Responds to Vučić: Operation Against Crime in Kosovo

BELGRADE, (Patria) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated today that a total of 23 people of Serbian and Bosniak nationality were arrested in the morning operation by the Kosovo special police in northern Kosovo, adding that the purpose of the operation was not to fight crime but a desire to intimidate the Serbian people and criminalize the local population.

KFOR spokesperson Vincenzo Grasso confirmed to the media that the Kosovo police are carrying out an operation throughout Kosovo based on an order from the Basic Court in Pristina, in connection with a corruption investigation.

“KFOR confirms that this is solely a police operation and that neither the KSF nor other military forces have been deployed to the North of Kosovo.”

Addressing the members of the Serbian Parliament, Vučić reiterated that the Serbian Army will protect the people if their safety is threatened and that, as the supreme commander, he has already ordered combat readiness for all units, and that everything will depend on whether there is an escalation of conflict.

Vučić said that he had contacted representatives of the European Union and the Brussels administration, i.e., mediators in the dialogue, and informed them of everything that was happening, but they told him that it was an operation against crime.

"The arrest of 23 individuals of Serbian and Bosniak nationality in the territory of three municipalities, Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavić, and Zubin Potok, has been confirmed. Mostly, it concerns members of the Kosovo police, as we stated 15 days ago when we alerted the public," said Vučić.