Mr. Milos Subotic, a senior official at the University of Mitrovica North and our primary contact for diploma verification, was detained by the police around 1:00 a.m. last night and reports being physically assaulted by two police officers while held at the station. He was released at approximately 3:30 a.m.

The police report states that Mr. Subotic was allegedly disrupting the public area on Car Lazar promenade, risking damage to a local business and refusing both police orders and an alcohol test, leading to his escort to the station.

However, Mr. Subotic contests this narrative, stating he was simply heading home when he was detained after moving a barrier and beginning to ascend the stairs to his residence. He asserts that he complied with police orders and that no disruptive behavior occurred.

We welcome the prompt reaction by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate (IPK) in opening a preliminary investigation to verify the allegations of misconduct by police officers during this incident.

Mr. Subotic has been a crucial collaborator with ECMI Kosovo for many years, supporting our diploma verification efforts within university circles to advance the integration of Kosovo Serbs. We are concerned that incidents like this could jeopardize these essential processes, which play a significant role in the professional future of many individuals.