Petar Petković, the head of Serbia’s so-called Office for Kosovo, has intensified Belgrade’s propaganda campaign by portraying routine security measures carried out by the Kosovo Police as alleged acts of “repression” against the Serbian community.
In a post on the social media platform X, Petković claimed that Kosovo Police conducted “unnecessary and tendentious” checks on visitors attending the celebration at the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Prizren. He described the standard security procedures as an “act of repression” and further alleged, without presenting evidence, that Kosovo authorities had obstructed the work of several Serbian-language media outlets.
Seeking to heighten tensions, Petković asserted that the authorities intended to create “a new Gazimestan,” reviving a long-standing political narrative frequently used by Belgrade to portray Kosovo as a threat to the Serbian community and to fuel nationalist sentiment.
However, the Kosovo Police routinely carry out security checks at large public gatherings, regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation. Such measures are standard practice and are designed to prevent security incidents while ensuring the safety of all participants.
Petković’s latest remarks are widely seen as part of Serbia’s continued effort to undermine Kosovo’s institutions internationally while reinforcing narratives of Serbian victimhood for domestic political purposes.
Kosovo authorities have consistently maintained that the Kosovo Police operate strictly in accordance with the law and professional policing standards, with a mandate to guarantee public order and protect all communities without discrimination.
According to information obtained by Dukagjini from the scene, there were no reported provocations by Kosovo Police officers during the event, nor were any security incidents reported to law enforcement authorities.
