Former Shterpce mayor, several others arrested during a Kosovo Police operation

English

Gazeta Express

21/12/2021 13:56

Former Shterpce mayor, Bratislav Nikolic, has been arrested Tuesday suspected of misuse of official duty, the Kosovo Police have confirmed. Strpce is one of the six Serb-majority municipalities in southern part of Iber river in Kosovo.

Nikolic served as mayor of Shterpce from 2009 until November 2021. Media report that dozens of mountain houses built in the Brezovica ski resort area could be the target of an investigation by the Basic Prosecution Office in Ferizaj. The houses are owned by Kosovar high-ranking politicians, officials, and businessmen that have been built over the years by giving and taking bribes.

The Srpska List, a political party representing Serbs in Kosovo and backed by Belgrade has reacted to the arrest condemning what they referred as “excessive use of force” and “brutal action” of the Kosovo Police in Shterpce. Director of Serbian Government Office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, stated that the Kosovo Police operation is aimed at “intimidating Kosovo Serbs” and blamed Prime Minister Albin Kurti for targeting Serbs in Kosovo. /GazetaExpress/