Petar Petković, the head of Serbia’s so-called Office for Kosovo, has continued his criticism of Kosovo’s institutions, portraying routine security measures carried out by the Kosovo Police as actions allegedly directed against Serbian Orthodox worshippers.
In a post on X, Petković claimed that the police conducted “unnecessary and selective” checks on people attending the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Archangels Monastery in Prizren. He described the security checks as an “act of repression” and, without providing evidence, alleged that Kosovo authorities also obstructed the work of several Serbian-language media outlets.
Seeking to underscore his claims, Petković said the authorities were attempting to create “a new Gazimestan,” invoking a long-standing political narrative frequently used by Belgrade to portray Kosovo as a threat to the Serbian community and to raise political tensions.
Kosovo Police, however, routinely carry out security checks at events with large numbers of participants as part of standard public safety procedures. These measures are applied regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation and are intended to prevent incidents and ensure the safety of everyone attending.
Critics argue that Petković’s statements are aimed not only at discrediting Kosovo’s institutions internationally but also at reinforcing narratives of victimization for domestic political purposes in Serbia.
Kosovo authorities have repeatedly emphasized that the Kosovo Police operate strictly in accordance with the law and professional standards, with the mission of maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of all communities without discrimination.
According to information gathered by RKS News from the scene, there were no reported provocations by the Kosovo Police during the event, nor did law enforcement authorities receive any reports of incidents related to the gathering.
