Serbian minister investigated for alleged illegal border crossing

The Prosecutor’s Office in Kosovo-Metojiha has launched an investigation into Serbian Minister Aleksandar Vulin’s allegedly illegal border crossing into Kosovo, local media reported on Oct.25.

“The decision was made because there is reasonable doubt that on Oct. 17 at an unspecified time without permission Aleksander Vulin crossed the border of Kosovo with Serbia outside an authorized border crossing and entered the territory of Kosovo,” Kosovo’s chief prosecutor announced, according to Serbian broadcaster B92.

There have been calls to issue an arrest warrant for Minister Vulin, who claims that the allegations are a politically-motivated attempt to anger the Serbian population in Kosovo ahead of local elections scheduled for Nov. 3.

“Such moves systematically build up tension and are aimed at inciting revolt among the Serbs in order for them to give up on the elections and miss the chance to take over power in their own communities,” Vulin stated, according to B92.

Following the announcement of the investigation, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic declared that he is ready to travel to Kosovo with Vulin and speak with local residents ahead of the November elections.

Serbia claims the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metojiha as part of its territory, and has appointed Vulin as the minister officially responsible for the province. Vulin has no “portfolio”, however, as his mandate is given by Serbia and the region remains independent of Serbian government authority since 2008.