NATO has confirmed it is taking the arrest of a Croatian officer and his partner very seriously, following allegations of espionage. The officer, a 54-year-old Croatian Air Force pilot, served in the KFOR mission in Kosovo, while his partner, a 46-year-old Serbian citizen from Kosovo, is accused of collaborating in transmitting sensitive information, according to France Presse.
“We take these allegations very seriously. The safety of KFOR personnel and the integrity of classified information are top priorities,” a NATO official said in a written statement.
The Split District Court judge ordered 30 days of pre-trial detention for both suspects, citing risk of witness interference and potential destruction of evidence. The Croatian State Prosecutor confirmed that the investigation remains classified, with only the age, nationality, and detention decision publicly disclosed.
Croatian media report that the military pilot allegedly shared sensitive information with his partner, who then transmitted it to the Serbian List party. The couple was arrested in Vis, Croatia, during their vacation in late July. The pilot was released, while the Serbian citizen faces deportation with a ten-year ban on entry into Croatia.
Investigators reportedly discovered compromising messages on their mobile devices that raised suspicions of international espionage. The female suspect is believed to have worked for a German organization, collecting intelligence provided over the past three years by the KFOR-serving pilot from Split.
According to Croatian media, the couple consists of a KFOR helicopter pilot and a Serbian sociologist from Kosovo, who are reportedly in a relationship.
Croatian President Zoran Milanović, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, stated that the investigation stems from a military police report concerning allegations of espionage involving Croatian armed forces personnel.
Meanwhile, Kosovo government spokesperson Përparim Krieziu confirmed to France Presse that Kosovo institutions are ready to cooperate fully with Croatian authorities to support the ongoing investigation.
