Prishtina, July 23, 2025 –
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo (MPJD) has stated that Serbian authorities have refused to provide any official information regarding the arrest of Kosovar citizen Lulzim Halili.
According to the MPJD, efforts were made late last night by the Kosovo Liaison Office to verify Halili’s arrest through direct contact with the Police Station in Svilajnac, approximately 100 kilometers from Belgrade. However, the on-duty police officer refused to provide any details about the case.
“Today, on July 23, 2025, the Liaison Office has submitted an official request to the Government of Serbia, via the Serbian Liaison Office in Kosovo, and with parallel notification to the EU Delegation in Serbia, seeking confirmation of the arrest and requesting further information on the case. So far, we have not received any response from the Serbian side,” the ministry announced in a statement.
The Ministry further emphasized that the Liaison Office has also informed diplomatic missions of the Quint countries accredited in Serbia, as well as the European Union Delegation, about the incident.
Should it be confirmed that Halili will be placed in pre-trial detention and subjected to criminal proceedings, the Liaison Office will submit a formal request to visit him in the detention facility.
Halili was reportedly apprehended by Serbian authorities near the town of Svilajnac and immediately taken into custody at the local police station.
The Kosovo government continues to monitor the case closely and has called for Serbia to comply with international legal norms and transparency regarding the detention of Kosovar citizens.
