An investigation has been launched into allegations that a Kosovo Serb lawyer was beaten up by two officers while he was detained at a police station in North Mitrovica.
Xhorxhina Bami and Florinda Kelmendi, October 30, 2024
Kosovo police officers and NATO peacekeepers in North Mitrovica, February 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE/GEORGI LICOVSKI.
Two police officers accused of beating up a Kosovo Serb lawyer who had been arrested in the city of North Mitrovica should be suspended, Kosovo’s police inspectorate said on Wednesday.
Milos Subotic said he was beaten by the officers while his hands were tied behind his back at a police station after being arrested in Car Lazar square for allegedly vandalising a shop front on Saturday night.
Subotic, who said he caused no damage, wrote on X on Wednesday: “Yesterday afternoon, I was invited to the PIK (police station in North Mitrovica) as an injured party for the purpose of identifying the perpetrators. During this time, I recognised the police officers who beat me while I was detained at the police station on the night of October 26, 2024.”
“As I was informed by the officers of the Police Inspectorate, the prosecution will take over further proceedings in this case,” Subotic added.
On Wednesday, the Kosovo Police Inspectorate recommended the two officers should be suspended from duty.
Mitrovica Basic Prosecution told BIRN that the case is being investigated in cooperation with the Police Inspectorate over “the criminal violations of ‘mistreatment during the exercise of official duties or public authorisations’ and ‘slight bodily injury’.”
The Police Inspectorate said in a press release: “The incident was reported to have happened after midnight (after 3am) when the police arrested and accompanied to the police station a citizen with the initials M.S. on suspicion that he damaged the property of a private business in the presence of the police officials. After issuing a misdemeanour ticket (according to the law on public order and peace), he was released.”
Several civil society groups condemned the arrest and beating of Subotic and announced it was halting communication with the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, because of “the continued silence of EULEX’s local police advisers and the entire mission regarding the pattern of unlawful police actions is unacceptable”.
On Monday, one of the groups, NSI Mitrovica, wrote on X that “after the EULEX Kosovo mission responded to our call regarding the Subotic case, we inform the public that we acknowledge this first step in establishing accountability for police torture against Milos Subotic, and we eagerly await further reports on the actions of Police Inspectorate”.
The NGO also urged other international organisations such as the OSCE, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN interim administration mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, to “intensify activities in monitoring the conduct of the Kosovo Police towards non-majority communities and to report regularly to the public”.
Copyright BIRN 2007