Arbërie Nagavci, head of the parliamentary group of Kosovo’s Vetëvendosje Movement, announced that she and fellow MPs Fatmire Kollçaku and Liza Gashi were prevented from entering Serbia to visit Presheva.
Accompanied by Ragmi Mustafi, political adviser to the Prime Minister, the MPs were held at the Serbian border crossing for more than two hours without explanation, Rks News reports.
Their visit was intended to offer condolences to Ardita Sinani, the Mayor of Presheva, following the death of her father.
“However, Vučić’s government, through the police, stopped us at the border crossing. After waiting for more than two hours without any explanation, we were informed that we would not be allowed to continue our journey and had to turn back.
Even condolences in a time of mourning were not kept out of politics. A completely private, humane visit, with no political agenda whatsoever, was obstructed, forcing us to offer our condolences on the roadside near the border, where Ardita came with her family to meet us,” Nagavci wrote.
Here is her full statement:
“Together with MPs Fatmire Kollçaku and Liza Gashi, as well as the Prime Minister’s political adviser, Ragmi Mustafi, we set off for Preševo today to offer our condolences to Ardita Sinani, Mayor of the Municipality of Presheva, following the passing of her father.
However, Vučić’s government, through the police, stopped us at the border crossing. After waiting for more than two hours without any explanation, we were informed that we would not be allowed to continue our journey and had to turn back.
Even condolences in a time of mourning were not kept out of politics. A completely private, humane visit, with no political agenda whatsoever, was obstructed, forcing us to offer our condolences on the roadside near the border, where Ardita came with her family to meet us.
This action is unacceptable. Serbia must respect the commitments it has undertaken instead of obstructing citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. We will inform the relevant authorities and European Union institutions about this incident.”
