This morning in Gračanica, on Vidovdan, Kosovo police arrested V.P., the organizer of a pilgrimage trip from Belgrade. The reason? The group he led wore t-shirts in the colors of the Serbian flag with the inscription “United Serbia.” The arrest took place in the presence of KFOR members and the police inspectorate, while the commander of the police station refused to comment on the incident. The Vidovdan commemoration in Gračanica began with a holy archierarchical liturgy, but the atmosphere is tense as Kosovo police have been arresting Serbs for years over wearing Serbian national symbols. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti previously warned that Serbia might use destructive elements from Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to provoke incidents during the Vidovdan celebration at Gazimestan. Kurti stated that these groups traditionally carry provocative Serbian and Russian nationalist symbols, which contradict Kosovo’s constitution and European values. Meanwhile, KFOR announced that it is not responsible for the announced construction of two new bridges over the Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica, further complicating the security situation in the region. Serbs from northern Kosovo and Belgrade oppose the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar, claiming it would endanger the security of Serbs in the northern part of the province. This tension between Serbs and Kosovo institutions is escalating ahead of important state and religious commemorations, while the international community calls for dialogue and calming the situation. Vidovdan, as a symbol of Serbian identity and history, has become a place of conflict and provocations, and arrests and bans on wearing national symbols only add fuel to the fire. If you think this is just another news story, think again — this is a real Balkan drama unfolding before our eyes. So, what do you think? Is wearing a t-shirt with Serbian symbols really a reason for arrest? Or is this just another way to intimidate and control Serbs? Drop a comment, let the people’s voice be heard!
Kosovo Police Arrest Serbs on Vidovdan: Symbols, Tensions, and Provocations in Gračanica
