UP

UN staff caught up in Kosovo police anti-smuggling sweep

Home page World
12 Punto 14 Punto 16 Punto 18 Punto

The UN mission in Kosovo (Unmik) has expressed "great concern" after two of its members were held in a police raid on suspected organised crime gangs.

Axar.az reports citing BBC.

It said "any harm" to its staff would have serious diplomatic consequences.

The two members were detained on Tuesday in northern Kosovo, an area with mainly ethnic Serbian inhabitants.

They were then taken to hospital "for treatment of injuries", Unmik said. One of the staff members, a Russian national, was later released.

Police director Rashit Qalaj said his force had arrested 19 police officers and nine civilians for offences including smuggling goods, organised crime, bribes and abuse of power.

Seven more were arrested for "preventing police from performing their duties", he said, adding that UN staff were in a vehicle that was being used as part of a "barricade" in the predominantly Serb town of Zubin Potok.

Unmik said it was working to establish the "precise circumstances" of the detention of its personnel.

Police officers reportedly fired live ammunition over the heads of protesting Serbs.

In response to the raid, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told parliament he had ordered all units of the army to be put on alert, a common occurrence during tensions with Kosovo.

"I guarantee you if an escalation of the conflict occurs, if an attack against the Serbian people occurs, Serbia will win," he added.

Russia, a key Serbian ally in the Balkans, condemned the detention of the Russian national.

"We consider this blatant act as yet another manifestation of the provocative line" by the Kosovo authorities, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Kosovo, which has a majority ethnic Albanian population, seceded from Serbia in 2008, and has since been recognised by more than 100 countries.

But Belgrade and Moscow continue to see the region as part of Serbia.

Date
2019.05.29 / 12:23
Author
Axar.az
See also

No Putin-Biden meeting planned - Rubio

Fire erupts at Italian tourist camp: 600 evacuated

Erdogan, Austrian PM discuss Ukraine crisis

Flight restrictions imposed at Moscow airports

Israel vows stronger strikes if threatened by Iran - Katz

Starmer and Macron discuss peacekeeping plans

Zelensky: Putin rejects peace, seeks to expand war

Houthi leader vows to continue attacks on ships

Iran doubling down efforts to acquire nuclear weapons

Rubio: Hopeful on Gaza deal, Witkoff to hold talks soon

Latest
Xocalı soyqırımı — 1992-ci il Bağla
Bize yazin Bağla
ArxivBağla