Kosovo Condemns Serbian Border Arrest as ‘Witch Hunt’

The Pristina authorities urged the EU and US to intervene after Serbia arrested a German citizen of Kosovo origin on suspected war-related charges while travelling back from his summer holiday in Kosovo.

Ibrahim Matoshi. Photo courtesy of the family of Ibrahim Matoshi.

Kosovo’s foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned the arrest of German citizen Ibrahim Matoshi as he crossed the Serbian border and demanded an end to what it called the “witch hunt by the Serbian authorities” against people of Kosovo origin.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also calls on the European Union, the Quint states [the US, Britain, Germany, France and Italy] and the international community to urgently warn our neighbour about such behaviour and ask for the immediate release of the arrested person,” the ministry said in a statement.

Ministria e Punëve të Jashtme e Kosovës reagon pas arrestimit nga Policia serbe të mërgimtarit nga Gjilani https://t.co/Tlugr9XqGh

— Kallxo.com (@KallxoLive) August 13, 2018

Matoshi, a dentist from eastern Kosovo town of Gjilan/Gnjilane was arrested on Monday at the Kosovo-Serbia crossing point at Dheu i Bardhe while heading back to Germany after a holiday in Kosovo, his relatives told BIRN.

The foreign ministry accused Belgrade of violating the human rights of Kosovo citizens using Serbian territory as a transit country during their holiday trips.

LAJMI I FUNDIT https://t.co/v3eqbatg6n

— Kallxo.com (@KallxoLive) August 13, 2018

The ministry didn’t specify the reason for the arrest but said that according to the information it has, Matoshi was held on charges related to an “indictment as in the other cases against Kosovo citizens from the war period”.

Outraged by the arrest of Mr Ibrahim Matoshi by Serbian Police today. The witch-hunt by SRB on #Kosovo citizens must end. I urge his immediate release and a clear stance by @eeas @FedericaMog on these provocative actions that makes it unsafe to travel through SRB for???????? citizens

— Behgjet Pacolli (@pacollibehgjet) August 13, 2018

Matoshi’s brother Musli also said on Tuesday that his family does not know the reason for the arrest.

“We don’t have any official information about why he was arrested. We are waiting for information and the German embassy in Belgrade is also dealing with the case,” Musli Matoshi said.

Immediately after his arrest, Matoshi was sent to the southern Serbian town of Vranje.