Battle of Kosovo

Kosovo police said they arrested Serbian citizen Nikola Nedeljkovic from Belgrade for "inciting hatred and discord" after a memorial service on Tuesday dedicated to the fighters of 1389 Battle of Kosovo.

The service was held at the Gazimestan monument near Kosovo's capital, Pristina. It coincides with the Serbian Orthodox religious holiday of Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day).

Serbs celebrate Vidovdan at a monument in Gazimestan in Kosovo. Photo: EPA-EFE/VALDRIN XHEMAJ.

The Kosovo prosecution accuses Jovanovic of the criminal offence of "inciting discord and intolerance".

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday that her city administration has proclaimed June 28 to be Vidovdan Day and urged its residents to "join in celebrating" the Serbian religious occasion.

In her official proclamation, Lightfoot noted how Chicago "has one of the largest Serbian American communities in the United States".

Special Rosu units headed to the north of Kosovo yesterday and this decision was made after Serbian Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin was banned from attending the marking of Vidovan (St. Vitus Day) at the Gazimestan monument, raised to the heroes of the 1389 Battle of Kosovo.

Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day) is celebrated on June 28. An important religious feast and date for the Serbs, it, among other historical events, marks the day in 1389 when the Battle of Kosovo was fought between the Serbian Kingdom and the invading Ottoman Turks.

KRUSEVAC - We must defend and preserve the two greatest values - the independence and freedom of Serbia and its citizens - because we won our freedom and we did not get it from the big powers, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Krusevac Wednesday.

Serbs are marking June 28 - the Orthodox Christian feast of Vidovdan (St. Vitus) - and historically a day of special significance for the nation and the state.

A row has erupted in the Kosovo town named after 14th century Serbian knight Milos Obilic, the alleged killer of invader Sultan Murad I, over whether to name a cultural centre after the Ottoman potentate.

Several thousand people on Sunday, St. Vitus Day (Vidovdan), attended a memorial service at Gazimestan, near Pristina.

In this place in 1389, 626 years ago, the Serbian army led by Prince Lazar confronted the invading Ottoman Turks. Those fallen in the battle that the Serbian state lost are referred to as Kosovo Heroes, and the Gazimestan monument is their memorial.

Nikolić's speech at Gazimestan interrupted

GAZIMESTAN -- Those who threw objects at Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić at Gazimestan on Saturday were "in fact targeting Serbia," said the SNS party.

They caused "unforeseeable damage to everyone and eroding the reputation of our country," according to the ruling Progressives.