The Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) has expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the arrest of a citizen of the Republic of Kosovo at the Bllacë – Hani i Elezit border crossing, based on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia through Interpol.
“This is yet another unacceptable case of Serbia’s fabricated arrest warrants being enforced by North Macedonia’s Ministry of Interior, which continues to act without any verification filter, endangering the rights and freedoms of Kosovo citizens. Even more concerning is the fact that this detention was kept hidden from the public for more than 10 hours, raising further suspicions about the true motives behind such actions,” BDI stated in its reaction.
According to BDI, these repeated and unjust arrests are happening at a time when North Macedonia is governed by a weak executive lacking ethnic legitimacy. The party criticized Albanian representatives in the government, claiming they have not only failed to exert influence but have also been incapable of protecting the interests of Albanian citizens both inside and outside the country. This dangerous situation, BDI warns, affects not only Albanians in North Macedonia but also Kosovo citizens, who face uncertainty and injustice when traveling to the country.
BDI reaffirmed its stance that Serbia’s Interpol arrest warrants should not be blindly enforced by North Macedonia’s institutions. The party emphasized that during its tenure with legitimate Albanian representation in government, it had prevented such incidents and ensured the protection of Kosovo citizens’ rights.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Bajrami and call on the Government of North Macedonia to urgently review its practice of executing Serbia’s arrest warrants. Our state cannot become a tool of Belgrade’s policies at the expense of Albanian citizens,” the BDI statement concluded.
