The Director of the so-called Kosovo Office, Petar Petkovic, has accused the Kosovo police of abuse and disinformation after they intervened in a case of breach of the peace and order.
What Petkovic said and reported by the portal Kosovo Online:
“No one would swallow the lies of the so-called Kosovo Police! They say that the tear gas was activated by accident, and they call the harassment and detention of children with long hoses a ‘democratic procedure’. ! Tear gas on Serbian children for singing Serbian songs – this is the true face of Kurti’s terror!”
Analysis:
Petkovic’s statements and the reporting of Kosovo Online are part of a wider propaganda campaign aimed at destabilising the situation in Kosovo and creating a negative image of the Kosovo authorities. Official sources from the Kosovo Police have denied these allegations and stated that they acted in accordance with the law and procedures.
Veton Elshani, Deputy Commander of the Kosovo Police for the North Region, said that the tear gas canister was inadvertently activated due to technical problems and not deliberately thrown at the young men. He explained that the accident occurred when a police officer was getting out of his car when the tear gas burst due to a faulty fuse. Elsani added that a disturbance of public order had been reported, which is a criminal offence after midnight under Kosovo law.
Kosovo Police issued a statement on social media denying the allegations of deliberate use of tear gas against Serbian youths. The police say that the tear gas was activated accidentally during the operation and that the detention of the children was not malicious but part of standard procedures in cases of disturbance of public order.
In accordance with Kosovo laws and international norms, the Kosovo Police has the right to carry out its duties in any institution on the territory of Kosovo, including schools, when it is necessary to ensure security. Claims that the Kosovo police have no right to be present in Serbian institutions are inaccurate and constitute an attempt at propaganda.
The statements made by Petro Petkovic and the reporting of Kosovo Online are examples of disinformation aimed at destabilising the region and creating hostility towards the Kosovo authorities and international mediators. Official sources, such as the Kosovo police, give a different picture of what is happening, stressing the professionalism and legality of their actions./The Geopost/