Kosovo President Hashim Thaci told BIRN that the authorities would investigate why the arrested head of Serbia’s Kosovo office was paraded in handcuffs through Pristina.
In an interview with BIRN’s TV show Jeta ne Kosove, the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said the authorities were investigating why the head of Serbia’s Kosovo office, Marko Djuric, was paraded publicly through the streets in handcuffs after his arrest.
“I as President, the Prime Minister and the speaker of parliament have requested an assessment of developments that took place in the North [of Kosov], his [Djuric’s] illegal entry [into Kosovo], developments inside the hall, the arrest … we are awaiting the assessment of the Interior Ministry and Kosovo Police,” Thaci said.
Kosovo authorities on March 27 deported Djuric after police arrested him in North Mitrovica for “illegally entry into the country”; the authorities had banned him from coming.
Following the arrest, Djuric was taken to Pristina, where police parked the car in a street near police station, and walked him in handcuffs with his head held down to the entrance with media and citizens snapping photos and videos.
Djuric, who was deported to Serbia the same day, later described the treatment as an attempt to humiliate him and Serbia, saying that he was “walked liked a dog”.
Beside Thaci, other Kosovo officials, including Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli, have also questioned how Djuric was treated.
“It seemed to me a bit much, and I asked for an explanation. I have been told that there was some misunderstanding,” Pacolli told the same show.
He was referring to the fact that police might have been ordered to take Djuric to prison, which would be why they parked near the entrance, but in meantime got another order to take him to the police station, which is further away.
Thaci also stated that Djuric’s arrival in Kosovo was staged by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic who – according to Thaci – wanted to create an unstable situation in Kosovo.
According to Thaci, Djuric had arrived in order to complicate the agreed formation of an Association of Serb-majority municipalities in accordance to Kosovo laws.
“They are not interested in establishing the Association. It was a pure provocation from Belgrade,” Thaci added, comparing Vucic to Northern Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“Vucic’s acts are similar to those of Kim Jong Un of the North Korea. Their threats are idle, empty,” Thaci stated.
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