Petkovic: Serbs arrested at Gazimestan have gone through hell, truth must be heard

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said a group of Serbs who had been arrested on St Vitus's Day, June 28, at the Gazimestan memorial complex near Pristina, Kosovo-Metohija, had gone "through hell" before finally being released on Wednesday.

The truth about the harassment of Serbs and their suffering must be heard, and the international community must realise it can no longer be covering up for Albin Kurti and his police, Petkovic told Most TV.

The group was detained at Gazimestan following a St Vitus's Day memorial service for the fallen Serbian heroes of the Battle of Kosovo against Ottoman Turkish invaders.

Gazimestan is the site of the battle, which took place on St Vitus's Day in 1389.

Petkovic said the so-called "Kosovo Police" had arrested the group to send a message that Serbs should not come to Gazimestan next year.

He said that, according to witness testimonies as well as medical documentation, the Serbs had been manhandled by the so-called "Kosovo police" and suffered numerous injuries and bruises as a result.

"What we have heard from the arrested Serbs is that the 'Kosovo police officers' pulled out knives and used batons to hit all those who refused to say that Kosovo is allegedly a 'republic' - and no one wanted to say that - and that they physically abused them and hurled insults at them, and ridiculed a man who was in a national dress," Petkovic said.

He added that he had stated this in detail, in a clear and unequivocal manner, in a series of letters to representatives of the international community, the EU in particular.

Earlier, a basic court in Pristina handed 700 euro fines to 36 Serbs detained at Gazimestan on Sunday and ordered that those without documents issued by the interim institutions in Pristina be deported from Kosovo-Metohija.

The group was suspected of allegedly disturbing public order and peace by chanting "Kosovo is Serbia" while making the traditional Serbian three-finger salute.