Kosovo authorities say Serbian forces abducted and forcibly removed members of the group on 19 April 1999. The 23 people were mainly residents of Srbica and Mitrovica and included Albanian activists, professionals and public figures. Four people had previously been arrested in connection with the case.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Sunday described the arrests of Serbs in northern Kosovo as the “most perfidious method of ethnic cleansing.” He said Serbia had hired lawyers who were in contact with the detainees’ families. That is Belgrade’s characterization; Kosovo prosecutors are investigating the disappearance and responsibility for it.