Prishtina, May 31, 2019

As announced on May 28, 2019, Kosovo Police in cooperation with the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, by the order of the Basic Court in Prishtina and led by the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo has implemented the search/control order in several separated locations in the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo.

The goal of this operation was to combat corruption and organized crime, raid and arrest several police officers, and on the day of the execution of the operation (19) police officers were arrested as suspects, (10) citizens’ were suspects, (9) other civilians who obstructed police officers in performing their duties as well as (1) UNMIK official.

As a continuation of the investigations related to this case until now another three police officers have been arrested who were listed in this in arrest warrant.

All arrested persons were treated according to legally prescribed standards and procedures, by respecting their rights and freedoms, guaranteed by law.

This police operation was preceded by a several months investigation by PIK and KP, with a grounded suspicion of involvement of several police officers and citizens in the offenses; ” Participation  in  or  Organization  of  an  Organized  Criminal  Group” in relation to other criminal offenses as; “Smuggling of Goods”, “abusing Official Position”, “Giving Bribe “, “Illegal Trade” etc.

The police plan begun to be implemented as it was planned in all the regions in which mostly were resolved without incidents, except the one in Zubin Potok region, where at the place called “Klisura/Gorge” unknown persons have placed roadblocks such are trees, setting fire and heavy vehicles, semi-trucks etc. 

Police in this area encountered in an armed resistance by suspected persons, where as a result of the shooting, two police officers were injured, one of them seriously and the other one with light injuries, including several injured officers during their actions to open/break the barricades that were imposed by citizens.

Majority of the suspects were violent during the arrest, and consequently the police had to use the necessary and proportional force in order to put the suspects under control.

It is worth to emphasize that during the removal of barricades and several persons who came out on the street in order to prevent the police, several times was observed a white Toyota vehicle with UN license plates and signs, which moved along with the suspects in several locations.

The driver of the vehicle has helped the violent protesters by placing his official vehicle in the middle of the road in front of suspected persons and the barricade, where it was observed that from the passenger’s side was taken out a chainsaw, which was used by the suspects to cut wood and place them in the barricade.

Even though police officers have repeatedly asked the same to free the road, by repeating the request in English, the same rejected the police orders by refusing to communicate, identify himself and to free the road.

Police officers being found in a strained situation in a dangerous area were forced to get him out of the car by force and arrest him and accompany him to the police. The person in question was initially provided with medical assistance at Mitrovica hospital.

By the order of the Chief Prosecutor of Mitrovica, the UN person, even though suspected for illegal actions, by respecting the immunity of the person concerned, he was not detained or stopped and the same was released along with the vehicle and was handed over to UN staff in Mitrovica, however against the same was processed the case for obstructing police officers in performing their duties and participating in the crowd.

According to police duties and procedures, after each operational action Kosovo Police makes postoperative assessments, regarding the development of the operation in general.

Since this is an ongoing investigation, Kosovo Police ex officio is limited in providing and publishing more detailed information.

Respectfully 

KP Information Office