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Hovenier demands the release of the deputy director of the Kosovo Police

2024-04-18 16:27:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The American ambassador in Pristina, Jeff Hovenier, demanded that the Serbian authorities release the deputy director of the Kosovo Police, Dejan Jankovic, who was detained the day before at the Jarinja border crossing, which connects Kosovo with Serbia.

After the regular meeting with the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, Hovenier told the media that with the head of state they also talked about the events of April 17, when, according to the authorities in Kosovo, Serbia stopped over 1,400 Kosovars while they were transiting through Serbia.

Ten police officials were also among those arrested. The authorities said that nine police officers have been released, while Jankovic has been detained for 48 hours by Serbia under the charge of violating the constitutional order of Serbia.

"We are concerned because we have known him for several years now for investing time and energy for the Serbian community and the police, helping and ensuring the successful integration of the police force that serves all citizens of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity. He had an important role in ensuring the sensitivity related to the Serbian community and addressed by the Kosovo Police", said Hovenier.

"For example, he has also played a role in overseeing the unit that provides protection for cultural heritage monuments, including Serbian Orthodox monasteries, in a powerful, meaningful and effective way. We are very worried and we hope that he will be released", the American diplomat added. The German ambassador in Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, also called for the release of Jankovic and a reduction in tensions, calling the detention of the police officer "unacceptable".

Kosovo has accused Serbia that with its recent actions it has committed a serious violation of human rights and violated the agreements reached in the dialogue, which is mediated by the European Union.

Even the European bloc a day ago said that Serbia, with the ban on travelers and buses from Kosovo, on its borders with Hungary and Croatia, has violated the Agreement on free movement.

Hovenier said that the US agrees with the EU's assessment of this issue, adding that Washington, as a supporter of the dialogue process, expects that all agreements reached in Brussels will be respected and implemented.

Kosovo has said that the detention and "maltreatment" of the citizens of Kosovo who were passing through Serbia, was done "as a sign of revenge" after on April 16, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe supported Kosovo's membership in this organization. Serbia has said that it will work to prevent Kosovo from being admitted to this organization during the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 16./ Rel