Petkovic: Detentions aimed at intimidating Serb voters in Kosovo-Metohija

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Tuesday detentions of directors of Serbian health care and educational institutions in central Kosovo-Metohija on orders from Albin Kurti represented an attempt by Pristina to exert impermissible pressure and intimidate Serb voters.

In an official statement, Petkovic said the move was aimed at giving Kurti's favourite, Serb politician Nenad Rasic, "a push in the upcoming elections."

He noted that all international representatives, including EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Peter Sorensen, had been notified immediately of the "illegal and unfounded kidnapping of Serbian health care and education workers" and that Belgrade had demanded urgent engagement on the issue.

Kurti is sparking crises and tensions on the ground again and using the Serbs for political campaigning as he has nothing else to offer to his voters, Petkovic added.

Earlier in the day, five Serbs were detained in Gracanica on suspicion of allegedly committing the criminal offence of "violating the free affiliation of voters" and a Pristina-based prosecutor's office said they had been detained following Rasic's claims that they had threatened voters ahead of June 7 elections.