Kosovo downgrades controversy detention of former Serb police officer to house arrest

BELGRADE, Serbia 

A Kosovo court on Wednesday downgraded the controversial detention of a former Serbian police officer to house arrest, according to his lawyer. 

The lawyer for Dejan Pantic confirmed that the court replaced the detention order with house arrest.

"The Kosovo police are obliged to transfer Pantic to his home," said Nebojsa Vlajic.

Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have escalated since the detention of Dejan.

Kosovo Serbs have been standing guard at barricades they set up at border crossings since Dec. 10 to protest Pantic’s arrest on suspicion of attacking election officials.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he is very interested in how the decision was made.

"Since he was on a hunger strike and had heart problems, he could have been taken to the hospital, which is understandable. I am interested in finding out who is the prosecutor who filed this request and the court that made this decision," said Kurti.

Viola von Cramon, Rapporteur of the European Parliament (EP) for Kosovo welcomed the decision.

''This should lead to the immediate removal of barricades in the North of Kosovo and full de-escalation,'' said Cramon.

Pantic will remain under house arrest until Jan. 9. How the case will proceed will be determined later.

While Pantic was held at a police station near the Jarinje border crossing due to barricades throughout the process, Kosovo institutions' requests for assistance from international organizations in the transfer of Pantic to the capital Pristina were unanswered.

The European Union, NATO and the US have called for de-escalation and the removal of barricades in northern Kosovo, while Serbia has requested to deploy its army and police based on a UN resolution.