The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo (MFAD) has urged citizens to avoid traveling through Serbia, citing repeated cases of arrests and detentions of Kosovo citizens by Serbian authorities.
According to the ministry, criminal proceedings have been initiated against four Kosovo citizens since 2025. The cases involve allegations related to war crimes, incitement of hatred, and violations of Serbia’s constitutional order.
Regarding the latest arrest of Kosovo citizen Osman Selmani in Serbia, who was detained at the Mutivodë border crossing, the ministry said that Kosovo’s Liaison Office in Serbia informed QUINT countries and requested their intervention with Serbian authorities.
Similar cases were reported earlier in 2026. In February, a person identified by the initials M.LL. was arrested at the Croatia–Serbia border and was released in April.
“The MFAD has continuously called on citizens of Kosovo, including members of the diaspora who live abroad and plan to travel to Kosovo, to use alternative routes and avoid crossing through Serbia, considering the repeated cases of detention and arrests of citizens of the Republic of Kosovo by Serbian authorities,” the ministry stated.
Lawyer Arianit Koci, who has handled similar cases directly, also urged citizens to be cautious about their social media activity.
He referred to the case of Avdi Memçaj, who, according to him, has been held in pre-trial detention for two months solely because of communications on social media.
“I would appeal to people to be careful about how they express themselves on social networks, because you have the case of Avdi Memçaj, whom Serbia detained only because of communication through social media. Since May 20, he has been in prison for more than two months. He has not committed any other action,” Koci said.
Koci also provided advice on how citizens should act if they are detained by Serbian authorities.
The MFAD has not provided figures on how many Kosovo citizens have been arrested by Serbian authorities this year or last year.
In recent years, Serbia has repeatedly arrested Kosovo citizens on allegations related to war crimes committed during the 1998–99 Kosovo war.
