Vulin: ROSU operation in Strpce aimed at intimidating Serbs

ZVECAN - Aleksandar Vulin, Serbia's minister without portfolio in charge of Kosovo-Metohija, has noted that the operation that Kosovo police carried out in Strpce, southern Kosovo-Metohija, on Tuesday was aimed at intimidating Serbs and forcing them to flee.

"The latest show of force in Strpce by Pristina's interim authorities is an attempt to intimidate and scare Serbs once again," Vulin told the Zvecan-based broadcaster Most referring to the operation of the Kosovo police special unit.

"It is no coincidence that this is happening in the area where Serbs constitute a majority and where they live in a tight community," Vulin said.

"Incidents occur repeatedly, ranging from the fact that I have been banned from coming to Strpce seven or eight times, to this incident when they stormed the building of our court, seized papers, documents, entered premises by force, broke file cabinets open, and arrested four Serbs who have worked in police for quite a long time," Vulin said.

"Our Ministry of Justice sent a protest note and we expect a response," Vulin said, urging Strpce's citizens to stay calm.

Vulin said that the Office for Kosovo-Metohija, which he heads, “will immediately ensure legal assistance for all the arrestees.”

ROSU members stormed the court building in Strpce, which is part of the Serbian justice system, and left it after one hour.

Members of the Kosovo police special unit ROSU unlawfully stormed the building of the court unit belonging to the Basic Court in Kosovska Mitrovica that is located in Strpce, TV Most learnt from Nikola Kabasic, the acting president of the High Court in northern Kosovska Mitrovica.

They threw court employees out of the building, got hold of...