Osman Selmani has been arrested by Serbian authorities at the Mutivodë border crossing while returning from a visit to his place of origin in the Medveđa area. He is currently being held and questioned by the War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade on allegations related to war crimes.
According to a statement released by his family, Selmani was detained on 1 July 2026 while crossing the border. The family strongly rejects the accusations, describing them as unfounded and false, and insists on his innocence.
In their public reaction, relatives stated that Selmani had been visiting the village of Tupallë in the Medveđa municipality, where he was born. They also emphasized that he has lived with his family in Pristina for more than 50 years, and that the visit was purely personal.
“We believe in his innocence and will stand by him until the truth is fully clarified. We trust that justice will prevail and the truth will come to light,” the family said in their statement.
The arrest comes amid ongoing sensitivities surrounding war crimes investigations in the Western Balkans, where cases from the 1990s conflict period continue to surface in regional judicial proceedings. Such arrests often trigger strong reactions, particularly when individuals detained are linked to cross-border movements between Kosovo and Serbia.
Authorities in Serbia have not yet issued a detailed public explanation regarding the specific charges or evidence related to the case.
As the legal process unfolds, the case is expected to attract attention in both Kosovo and Serbia, where war crimes allegations remain a deeply sensitive and politically charged issue.