A citizen from Kosovo/ DUI arrested in RMV: Ministry of Interior has not carried out verifications

2025-02-15 21:41:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

A citizen from Kosovo/ DUI arrested in RMV: Ministry of Interior has not carried

North Macedonian police have arrested a person, who is reported to be a former KLA soldier. The 55-year-old EU man was arrested at the Bllaca Border Crossing, which connects Kosovo with North Macedonia. The reason for his arrest was an international arrest warrant issued by Serbia through Interpol. The arrested person is in the police station and a decision is awaited on whether he will be released or extradited.

A reaction to the arrest of BE has come from the Democratic Union for Integration party. In its statement, DUI strongly condemns the arrest of the 55-year-old and accuses the Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia of acting without conducting any verification, violating the freedom of citizens. DUI also says that BE's arrest was kept secret for more than 10 hours.

Full reaction

The Democratic Union for Integration expresses deep concern and strongly condemns the arrest of the citizen of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Bajrami, on February 14, 2025, at the Bllacë - Hani i Elezit border crossing, based on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia through Interpol.

This is another unacceptable case of the implementation of arrest warrants fabricated by Serbia by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia, which continues to operate without any verification filter, endangering the rights and freedoms of Kosovo citizens. Even more worrying is the concealment of this detention from public opinion for more than 10 hours, an action that only increases doubts about the true intentions of these measures.

Such repeated and unjust arrests are occurring precisely at a time when North Macedonia is governed by an impotent executive without ethnic legitimacy. Albanian representatives in this government have demonstrated not only a lack of influence, but also an inability to protect the interests of Albanian citizens at home and abroad. This dangerous situation affects not only the Albanians of North Macedonia, but also the citizens of Kosovo, who face insecurity and injustice whenever they travel to our country.

DUI has been and remains steadfast in its stance that arrest warrants issued by Serbia through Interpol should not be blindly implemented by the institutions of North Macedonia. During the government with legitimate Albanian representation, we have prevented such cases and guaranteed the protection of the rights of Kosovo citizens.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Bajrami and call on the Government of North Macedonia to urgently review the practice of executing Serbia's arrest warrants. We cannot allow our state to become a tool of Belgrade's policies, to the detriment of Albanian citizens./ CNA