On Sunday, Nenad Rašić, the Minister for Communities and Returns in the Kosovo Government, issued a strong call to what he referred to as Serbia’s radical regime to release Nikola Radimirović, the newly appointed director of Leposavic Municipality. Radimirović was arrested on September 9 and is currently being held in Raška, southwestern Serbia.
Kosovo’s Minister of Defense Xhelal Sveçla announced on Saturday that Radimirović, a Serbian politician from Kosovo, was arrested along with his fiancée.
Nikola Radimirović is the son of Radoica Radimirović, who serves as the Deputy Minister for Communities and Returns in the Kosovo Government.
Rašić stated during a press conference in Pristina on September 10 that “the reason behind Nikola’s arrest is the pressure on Radoica”.
“I firmly believe this is part of their blackmail strategy,” Rašić emphasized.
Radimirović was appointed as the director of the Administration of Leposavic Municipality following the April elections in four Serbian-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo, where Albanian mayors were elected. These elections were boycotted and opposed by the Serbian community, resulting in heightened tensions.
Rašić characterized the situation as “extremely distressing”, adding, “This is a tactic that has been in use for the past 7-8 years, and when I say years, it has personally affected me for that long. Every time I’ve attempted to cross the border, I’ve been detained by Serbian police for several hours. Typically, my visits to Serbia are for family purposes.”
Rašić disclosed that Radimirović was held at the border checkpoint in Leposavic for over eight hours before being transported to a police station in Raška, where he awaits preliminary court proceedings.
“He was subjected to questioning by individuals identifying themselves as members of Serbia’s Security and Intelligence Agency (BIA). According to information received, he is expected to remain in custody there until at least Monday.”
Rašić accused the Serbian Government of seeking to exert control over Serbian politicians in Kosovo through pressure and blackmail.
“We have reached a point where anyone who holds views contrary to the radical and extreme regime currently in power in Belgrade has become a target of hostile and inhumane actions.”
Rašić was appointed as the Minister for Communities and Returns by Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, following the resignation of Goran Rakić and other Serbs from northern Kosovo in November of the previous year.
Goran Rakić was associated with the Serb List, the sole party with Belgrade’s support that participated in Kosovo’s institutions.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić used derogatory language to describe Rašić after he assumed the role of minister in Kurti’s Government.
Radimirović’s arrest comes less than a week before the resumption of high-level dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels.
Minister Sveçla urged Serbia to halt the pressure and “unlawful actions against Kosovo citizens, particularly those of Serbian ethnicity who are loyal to their state, the Republic of Kosovo, and who serve all its citizens”.
