Serbia has deported two Swiss citizens, after a court annulled their prison sentences, because they had made the eagle with their hands, a gesture that, according to Serbian prosecutors, is seen as a symbol for “Greater Albania”.

This symbol is a reference to the double-headed eagle found on the flag of Albania and is also used by Albanians around the world, including in Kosovo, whose independence Serbia refuses to recognize.

The Serbian authorities describe this gesture as a nationalist provocation.

Expulsion of B.C, and G.V. it was done after the agreement they reached with the Serbian prosecutor’s office.

“B.C. has committed the criminal offense of inciting national, racial and religious hatred and intolerance by assisting, as he photographed G.V., who made the double-headed eagle with his hands”, said the announcement of the Serbian authorities.

G.V., was sentenced to one year in prison, while B.C. with six months imprisonment. But, after the agreement with the prosecution, their sentences were cancelled.

According to the decision, the two Swiss citizens will not have the right to go to Serbia for ten years.

Even in the past, Serbia had strongly reacted to the making of the eagle symbol.

The Swiss footballer, Granit Xhaka, who hails from Kosovo, made the eagle with his hands after the goal scored by his team. Then his teammate, Xherdan Shaqiri, also from Kosovo, made this symbol in Switzerland’s game against Serbia in the World Cup in 2018.

They had been fined by the world football authority, while celebrating goals in this way by footballers from Kosovo had caused great anger in Serbia.