Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) and Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija (DNKiM) in the strongest terms condemned “continuation of mistreatment of journalists and media professionals in Kosovo and Metohija by the Kosovo police,” KoSSev portal reported.

The reaction came after the police in Pec arrested, interrogated and after almost 5 hours released 3 RTS crew members and 5 lawyers from the Free Legal Aid Office. UNS and DNKiM requested once again from the responsible bodies to enable all journalists to carry out their work without any obstruction and violence. Svetlana Vukmirovic, RTS journalist told UNS that RTS crew was filming a fourth episode of a broadcast “Right to Tomorrow” focusing on usurped Serb properties, when Kosovo police arrested them along with 5 lawyers from the Free Legal Aid. She explained that unknown Albanian reported to the police he has seen cameras, after which the crew members were brought in to the police station. “Three crew members, cameraman Aleksandar Stipic, Biljana Erdeljan and driver Dalibor Milutinovic were searched, identified and almost for five hours interrogated. Five lawyers working with us on this show were also brought in. I have reported the incident to the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and they have intervened (…),” she said. Vukmirovic also added that the second part of the crew, including her, another cameraman, one more team member and one lawyer who were in another vehicle was not brought into the police station. “UNS and DNKiM reminded that only three days ago, Kosovo police special unit members acted violently against Serb journalists who were reporting on events in Mitrovica North,” their press statement added.