A month of detention for Kosovo- British nationals who were arrested at the border, Kosovo announces QUINT entry in Serbia

Sadik Duraku from the village of Demjan Gjakova has been assigned the 30-day detention measure by the Supreme War Crimes Court in Belgrade, under suspicion that he committed war crimes during 1999 in Kosovo. Duraku, who is also British citizen, was arrested Wednesday during a Serbian police action at the Croatia-Serbia border crossing, Batrovci. In addition, several others were detained that day, including several police officials

The Supreme Court for War Crimes in Belgrade has assigned the detention measure for a month, Sadik Durak, from the village of Demjan of Gjakova. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the decision has been made today after the War Crimes Prosecutor in Belgrade is claiming Duraku has committed war crimes.

He was arrested Wednesday at the Croatia-Serbia border.

After the announcement received by Mr. Sadik Duraku, a citizen of the Republic of Kosovo from the village of Damjan, the municipality of Gjakova, (which also holds the citizenship of Great Britain), has been arrested on 17 April 2024 at the Croatia-Serbia Border Path of Batrovci. He was returning to the Republic of Kosovo with his own car. After the arrest, Mr. Duraku has been communicated to the Serbian authorities that he is charged with claims of war crimes committed during the 1999 war in Kosovo, where he was then sent to Belgrade to hold for another 48 hours at the Belgrade War Crimes High Centre. To him, allegations of war crimes committed have been filed by Belgrade's Supreme War Crimes Prosecutor”, said in the MPB's response to Gazeta Express.

On the other hand, they say Duraku is not in good health as announced by family members.

“Z. Duraku, today, Friday, April 19, 2024, appeared at 9: 00 a.m. before judges of the Supreme War Crimes Court's preliminary procedure in Belgrade. According to the defence attorney, the Court has taken the verdict with which he has been pronounced the 30-day detention measure. Mr. President's family. Duraku has stressed that he is in poor health, and the defence attorney has confirmed that he has been given corresponding therapy by prison authorities”, said the MPB's response to the paper.

Currently, Ambassador Jethish Jashari has asked Serbian authorities to provide clarifications for Durak's arrest.

His request has also been to allow the visit, as he contacted QUINTT's

“Meanwhile, Ambassador Jashari has submitted official request to Serbia's Liaison Office in Kosovo to get information about the reasons for Mr. Duraku, as well as offering other relevant details. Ambassador Jashari has also communicated with diplomatic representatives of the Serbia-accredited Quint countries, which he has announced about the case. Ambassador Jashari has also made official request to Serbian authorities for allowing his visit, which is expected to take place the following days”, the MPB for Express say.

In addition to Duraku, on Wednesday at the border crossing between Croatia and Serbia and that of Serbia and Hungary have been banned by hundreds of Kosovo citizens passing through Serbia. They received their documents, and for more than 15 hours they were not returned.

The Serbian state banned several citizens, including police officials. Kosovo Police Deputy Director Dejan Jankovic was even sent for a ban in Rashka.

Serbia's move had numerous reactions, including internationals.

The whole event was seen as Serbia's revenge for voting for Kosovo's membership in the KiE by the Parliamentary Assembly of this institution.