Kosovo Holds 19 Policemen After Organised Crime Crackdown

Kosovo Police said that the 19 policemen who have been arrested will be held in custody for 48 hours after Tuesday morning's operation, which sparked outbreaks of unrest in Serb-majority northern Kosovo and triggered angry reactions from Belgrade.

Of the 19 policemen in custody, 11 are Serbs, four are Kosovo Albanians and four are Bosnians, it was announced at a joint press conference by the Kosovo police, prosecution and Police Inspectorate.

"Eleven guns, phones and money have been confiscated," said Rashit Qalaj, the director of Kosovo Police.

Qalaj said that during the police operation, shots were fired at officers. Five Kosovo policemen were injured, including one who was hit by a bullet and another who was scratched by a piece of shrapnel, he added.

The UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, said that two UN staff members were also arrested in the police operation.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier on Tuesday that one of them was a Russian citizen, Mikhail Krasnoshchenkov.

The Russian Foreign Ministry asked for the urgent release of Krasnoshchenkov, saying that he has diplomatic immunity, and urging UNMIK to provide comprehensive information about the "unlawful arrest".

The UNMIK press office told BIRN meanwhile that the Russian UNMIK staff member has already been released.

Special Prosecutor Syle Hoxha said that the prosecution had started probing some of those arrested on Tuesday in April last year for "misuse of official position, organised crime, [dealing in] contraband, bribe-taking and receiving bribes".

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj told the press conference that the police action was directed towards individuals who are involved in trading contraband and corruption.

He insisted...