BELGRADE - The Association of Djakovica Citizens, which brings together the expelled and displaced Serbs from that town in southwestern Kosovo, requested on Saturday the release of Miras Gegovic, who was arrested in Podgorica on suspicion that he had committed a war crime against civilians.

The Association condemned Gegovic's arrest in the strongest terms, demanding that Serbia's state institutions offer him full legal protection.

The Association underscores in a release that the arrest of Gegovic caused a stir among Djakovica/Gjakova citizens in Montenegro and Serbia, adding that it constitutes further systemic intimidation of Serbs from that city.
“After the stoning of Serbs from Djakovica on January 6 (ahead of Orthodox Christmas), the insecurity surrounding our visit to the graves, this is further intimidation of Djakovica citizens,” notes the release.

Gegovic, 68, is a Serbian national from Djakovica/Gjakova who is facing the criminal proceedings before the relevant court in Kosovo on charges that he offered support in an attack on civilians in the village of Reka in 1999.

The crime calls for a 40-year imprisonment.

Gegovic was arrested on a warrant issued by Interpol UNMIK, and he has been placed in extradition detention for 30 days.