The Republic of Serbia has significantly increased the number of arrests and detentions of Kosovars this year, particularly targeting those using Serbia as a transit route to enter or leave Kosovo.
One such case involves former Kosovo Police officer, Arbnor Spahiu, who was arrested on June 7 at the Hungary–Serbia border while traveling from Germany to Kosovo. Serbian judicial authorities initially ordered a one-month pre-trial detention on charges of “aggravated murder” and later extended it for another month on July 9.
The allegations are linked to the Banjska incident in northern Kosovo in September 2023, when an armed group of Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police, killing Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. In the ensuing gunfight, three Serbian attackers were also killed.
Following Spahiu’s arrest, the Kosovo Police clarified that he was no longer a serving officer at the time of the incident, having resigned voluntarily in 2022.
Commenting on the arrest, German Minister of State Gunther Krichbaum told lajmi.net that Germany is closely monitoring the case.
“We are also closely following the arrest of Kosovo citizen Arbnor Spahiu by Serbian authorities, and we expect Serbia to fully and promptly ensure the proper implementation of legal procedures, respect fundamental rights, and guarantee a fair legal process—in accordance with the Justice Dialogue Agreement, which stipulates that criminal proceedings for offences committed in Kosovo should, in principle, take place in Kosovo,” said Krichbaum.
The minister also referred to the recent arrest of Serbia’s Assistant Director, Igor Popović, by the Kosovo Police, stating that they are also monitoring this case.
“Dialogue and good neighbourly relations are the backbone of a strong European Union. In this spirit, we continue to closely monitor the recent arrest of Serbia’s Assistant Director, Igor Popović, in Kosovo. Any deprivation of liberty must be justified and proportionate,” Krichbaum emphasized.
He reminded all stakeholders in both Kosovo and Serbia that adherence to European values and standards—particularly the rule of law—is essential for the EU accession process.
The arrest of Spahiu was followed on August 4 by the detention of Behar Preniqi by Serbian authorities at the Batrovci border crossing between Serbia and Croatia.
In a statement, Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (MFAD) condemned the arrest:
“The recent arrest of citizen Behar Preniqi at the Batrovci border crossing is yet another clear example of the unacceptable and destructive practices of the Serbian authorities, which blatantly violate international law and fundamental human rights standards,” the ministry said.
In July 2025, Serbian authorities also arrested Lulzim Halili from Peja. He was detained by Serbia’s Security Information Agency (BIA) in the town of Svilajnac under suspicion of committing war crimes against the Serbian population during the Kosovo war—though no official details have been released.
While Serbian media claimed Halili was a former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the Kosovo War Veterans Organization refuted these claims.
“Regarding yesterday’s arrest, we have accurate information from our records and sources that the individual in question is not a member of the war veterans’ organization and was not part of the liberation war in Kosovo,” stated Fatmir Sopi, Vice President of the KLA War Veterans Organization.
In recent months, the arrests of Kosovars in Serbia have become increasingly frequent. Both Kosovo institutions and war veterans’ organizations have repeatedly urged former KLA members and all members of the diaspora to avoid traveling through Serbia.
