“ - E NATO stated after ban by Kosovo Police Director in Serbia

Kosovo Police Deputy Director Dejan Jankoviq is still being held in prison in Serbia.

Chief of the European Union's Mission for the End of Law in Kosovo (EULEX), Giovanni Pietro Barbano is the next official to have reacted to this ban.

He has said EULEX is concerned about the ongoing detention of Jankovic.

“EULEX is concerned about the ongoing detention of Kosovo Police Deputy Director General Dejan Jankoviq in Serbia. We call on all those involved in the event that they adhere to the principles of rule of law throughout the whole process”.

A day earlier Kosovo authorities announced that 10 Kosovo police members were detained in Serbia, including Deputy Director Jankovic. Five of them had been released on Wednesday, while four other members, according to authorities, were released Thursday.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Serbia's move is a low act of revenge on Kosovo's success on the road to membership in the Council of Europe and human rights violations, free movement and the principle of good neighbourlyity.

President Vjosa Osmani, who attended today's graduation ceremony of the new Kosovo police cadets, called on international allies to step up efforts against such actions.

Interior Minister Jalal Svecla said that Jankoviki has been assigned the 48-hour detention measure by Serbian authorities, on charges of “decomposing constitutional order”, while stressing that yesterday's events are dangerous precedents and pose a threat to security in the region.

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said Thursday that the bans are part of actions to protect Serbia's constitutional order.

US Ambassador to Pristina Jeff Hovenier expressed concern over Mr. Jankovic's ban in Serbia.

“Jankovic is well known by the American Embassy and others. We are concerned because we know him now and several years for investing time and energy for the Serb community and the police, helping and ensuring the successful integration of the police force that serves all Kosovo citizens, despite their ethnicity”, Ambassador Havenier said.

German Ambassador Jorn Rohde went to social networks that the ban of Kosovo law enforcement officials, including Serbs, by Serbia's authorities is unacceptable and certainly not expected by a European Union candidate country.

♪ EULEX Kosovo is concerned about the aggression of the Deputy General Director of Kosovo Police, Mr. Dejan JANKOVIC in Serbia. We call on all those who are involved to follow the rule of law through the process.

Giovanni Pietro Barbano (@Elex HoM) April 18, 2024