Police close six illegal financial institutions in the north, Belgrade disinforms that Serbs are under threat

Kosovo police, in cooperation with the Kosovo Tax Administration, carried out an operation on May 20 that led to the closure of six units of the so-called Postal Savings Bank (Banka Postanske Stedionica) as an illegal financial institution of Serbia in the Republic of Kosovo. While there was disinformation in Belgrade that the Serbs were being threatened, the authorities in Kosovo stated that this was done to establish legality, after notification and request from the relevant institutions and the approval of the prosecutor.

“The rule of law and order and service to all citizens without distinction will continue to be our goal, to which we are continuously committed.” “I congratulate all institutions for the cooperation and the success shown,” wrote Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla.

The Kosovo Police initially issued a statement saying: “According to reports from financial monitoring institutions such as the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Central Bank of Kosovo, together with the Kosovo Tax Administration, based on the authorization of the competent prosecutor, it is developing a …” Police operation in six locations in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo, which are the so-called Treasury of the Postal Savings Bank (Banka Postanske Stedionice) and its five other subsidiaries that have been operating illegally in this area of the Republic of Kosovo. This police operation is being developed in cooperation and coordination with the relevant Kosovo institutions and judicial authorities and has so far proceeded without any problems or incidents.”

Then, in a new update, the Kosovo Police announced that the police operation carried out on Monday in the north of the country, during which six illegal units of the so-called “Postal Savings Bank” were closed, also led to the seizure of various funds material evidence.

“About 1,600,000 euros, about 74,700,000 dinars, about 19,500 francs, about 13,800 US dollars, about 40 Australian dollars. Relevant documentation and evidence in connection with the case. “Six branches of the so-called ‘Postal Savings Bank’ in the north of the country have been closed and official signs have been placed in their facilities for their closure, while all further police action will be carried out in cooperation and coordination with the Postal Savings Bank.” judicial authorities,” the police announced.

During this operation, the police interrogated five people, confirmed the deputy police director for the northern region, Veton Elshani.

Elshani said that one person was currently being questioned.

Radio Free Europe confirmed from information on the ground that “the person questioned by the police is Igor Radic, director of the Postal Savings Bank of Serbia in Kosovo”.

The Kosovo Police Intervention Units participated in sending Radić for an interview. Dozens of citizens protested in front of the Serbian bank and tried to prevent the arrest of Radiq by the law enforcement authorities, but his arrest became possible after the arrival of the police intervention unit.

Members of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, were also seen at the May 20 action in the four municipalities in northern Kosovo (North Mitrovica, Zveçan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok).

This action of the Kosovo police prevented the official Belgrade, which began to propagandize that this was directed against Serbian citizens.

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vucevic, said that this action “endangers the survival” of Serbs in Kosovo./The Geopost/