"Cooperation suspended until police commander is reinstated"

"Cooperation suspended until police commander is reinstated"

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- The Kosovo police have suspended the deputy commander of the Zubin Potok station, after a group of people broke into the station and freed a detained Serb.

As announced by the Kosovo police, a person was arrested on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of threatening and disturbing the peace.

The station in Zubin Potok then found that there was a previous warrant against the suspect, issued in 2012, "for criminal acts against persons under international protection and damage to movable property."

"Due to the irresponsibility of police officials in securing the detainee he managed to escape, as a result of pressure from people who had gathered at the police station and sought his release. The Kosovo police has activated the iron ring plan to find and arrest the fugitive," the statement said.

Meanwhile, representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo on Thursday asked the command of the Kosovo police in Priština to immediately return to duty the suspended deputy commander of the police station in Zubin Potok, Jugoslav Bogavac.

They stated that until this demand has been met, they would cease cooperation with the EULEX police and the command of the Kosovo police in Priština, and during that time, prohibit the entry of all units to municipalities of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić that are not under the jurisdiction of the regional police directorate "Mitrovica-North."

Mayors and presidents of municipal assemblies from northern Kosovo met in Zubin Potok and requested the decision to suspend Bogavac to be revoked. They also want disciplinary action against him to be dropped because they think...