RTS: Kosovo police searched worshippers at monastery feast in Prizren

Kosovo police searched worshippers who had gathered for a monastery feast at the Holy Archangels near Prizren, the Eparchy of Raška and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church reported. Public broadcaster RTS stated that local police officers searched everyone attending the monastery's celebration.

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Because of this attitude of the police, the Metropolitan of Raška-Prizren, Trodosije, called on the assembled faithful to be calm and dignified and not to allow themselves to be provoked or to give cause for police intervention.

According to RTS, police set up metal barriers through which officers searched attendees, including their bags and personal belongings. In response to the police actions, Mitropolit Trodosije of Raška and Prizren called on the gathered faithful to remain peaceful and dignified, urging them not to provoke or give cause for police intervention.

Approximately 50 members of a special police unit were stationed near the monastery, with some visible on the surrounding hillsides. This heightened police presence follows a similar situation on Vidovdan (June 28), when Kosovo police detained over 30 Serbs, including a minor, during commemorations for Kosovo heroes at Gazimestan.

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They described the actions of the Kosovo Police towards them during their detention at Gazimestan, transport, and stay at the police station, and said that despite the intimidation and mistreatment, there was no fear.

International missions stated they were "monitoring" the situation at that time. The Basic Court in Pristina subsequently fined several individuals detained on Vidovdan €700 each. According to Kim radio, foreign nationals among those fined also faced deportation and a three-year ban from entering Kosovo. Two individuals, Damjan Otašević and Stefan Tatar from Podgorica, described their treatment by Kosovo police during their detention, transport, and stay at the police station, asserting that despite intimidation and mistreatment, they did not feel fear.

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Otašević said that Kosovo police officers beat and mistreated them.