Plenković demands explanation from Serbia regarding the expulsion of three Croatian citizens: Unacceptable practice

(Patria) - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday demanded an explanation from Serbian authorities regarding the expulsion of three Croatian citizens, which he called "unacceptable" and rejected insinuations that Croatian citizens are interfering in Serbia's internal affairs.

The Croatian Ambassador to Serbia, Hidajet Biščević, confirmed on Wednesday that the Embassy had received notifications in the past three days about the expulsion of three Croatian citizens from Serbia, including the head of the Croatian Chamber of Economy's representative office.

“We are seeking clarification from the Serbian authorities regarding this unacceptable practice, which Croatia condemns,” Plenković stated at a government session on Thursday.

Serbian authorities expelled Croatian citizen Arien Stojanović Ivković on Tuesday, who is married in Belgrade and a mother of a minor child from that marriage. She was simultaneously banned from entering the country for one year, with the explanation that she “poses an unacceptable security risk,” and was given seven days to leave Serbian territory.

The Croatian Ambassador told Belgrade media that the Croatian citizens were expelled because they are considered a danger to Serbia's security, and that it is particularly concerning that a representative of one of the official institutions of the Republic of Croatia was also expelled.

Prime Minister Plenković on Thursday rejected “insinuations that Croatian citizens are in any way interfering in Serbia's internal affairs”.

He added that Croatia had informed its partners in the European Union about the incident, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already filed a protest note to Serbia due to “unacceptable behavior towards Croatian citizens, in our belief, without any valid arguments”.