KFOR: We are in contact with the Serbian authorities regarding the case of the three Kosovo policemen

2023-06-14 22:04:28, Kosova & Bota CNA

KFOR: We are in contact with the Serbian authorities regarding the case of the

The peacekeeping mission of NATO in Kosovo, KFOR, said that it is in contact with the Serbian authorities to receive official information regarding the event that happened on the border line between Kosovo and Serbia.

The Kosovo Police said that three of its officials were "abducted" within the territory of Kosovo, while in Belgrade it was said that they were arrested by anti-terrorist units of the Serbian gendarmerie within the territory of Serbia, in the municipality of Rashka.

"KFOR was not involved in today's event as far as the three Kosovo policemen are concerned and is in fact in contact with the Serbian authorities to receive official information regarding what happened", it was said in KFOR's announcement.

The incident, according to the Kosovo Police, happened at noon on Wednesday, when the policemen were allegedly kidnapped by Serbian forces during a patrol in the place called Tresave/Bare, on the border line in the north of Kosovo.

The place Tresave/Bare is located in the municipality of Leposavi?, within the territory of Kosovo. The police said that they notified KFOR about this incident.

KFOR: We are in contact with the Serbian authorities regarding the case of the

The heads of state in Kosovo have condemned this action, which they described as an "act of aggression", asking the international factor to condemn Serbia and the police officials to be released immediately.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that the Serbian police arrested three Kosovo policemen 1.8 kilometers from the border.

"These people have nothing to search for in the Tresava-Batnjik area without the approval of KFOR, especially with long barrels," said Vucic on Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).
This event is happening at a time when tensions in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs, have increased.

The tensions started on May 26, when the new Albanian mayors of the municipalities in the north, under the assistance of the Kosovo Police, entered the municipal buildings, amid the opposition of the local Serbs.

Tensions culminated on May 29, when in Zveçan, Serbian protesters clashed with members of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR. Dozens of people from both sides were injured in the clashes./ REL