Response of the Raška-Prizren Diocese (SOC) Regarding Recent Accusations in Certain Kosovo Media and on Social Networks

The Raška-Prizren Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) is deeply concerned about the irresponsible and false statements made by certain public figures in Kosovo Albanian society. A recent statement by Selim Pacolli, an official of the “Kosovo New Alliance” and former deputy mayor of Pristina, falsely claiming that the SOC was the main organizer of violence against Albanians and calling for the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo, is as untrue as the statement made yesterday by Gerakuci Kuqi of the Octopus Institute on KLAN TV. Kuqi suggested that weapons are being hidden in Serbian Orthodox churches and questioned the character of the people residing there.

ADDRESSING SELIM PACOLLI’S STATEMENT

The SOC in Kosovo and Metohija has never supported violence or war. On the contrary, the Church has actively worked against all forms of armed conflict, as evidenced by numerous interactions with international officials who have deeply appreciated the SOC’s stance. Many of these officials have visited our monasteries and strongly advocated for their protection.

Furthermore, during the 1999 conflict, monks from monasteries such as Visoki Dečani provided protection to Kosovo Albanian civilians and organized humanitarian aid in cooperation with the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) from the United States. After the war, Visoki Dečani Monastery also served as a refuge for many displaced Serbs and Roma who were expelled from their homes. These acts of solidarity have been documented by international media, and testimonies of assistance to Albanians, such as the one reported by BIRN in December 2022, further confirm this.

ADDRESSING PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS BY GERAKUCI KUQI

The allegations made by Gerakuci Kuqi of the Octopus Institute represent a repetition of slander that first surfaced last year through British MP Alicia Kearns, claiming that weapons were being hidden in our monasteries. This baseless claim has been refuted by KFOR, and the Kosovo Police have never confirmed or provided evidence for such absurd accusations.

Following the tragic incident near Banjska Monastery in the fall of 2023, the police and EULEX confirmed that all weapons found in the wider area of the monastery had been discarded by a group of armed Serbs retreating through the monastery grounds. These individuals temporarily stayed in a building outside the monastery walls. The investigation, as well as the final report of the Kosovo Government on the Banjska case, established that no weapons were stored in the monastery and that neither the monastery nor the Church was implicated in this tragic event.

CONCERNS ABOUT SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION

The dissemination of such false information is part of a campaign by irresponsible individuals in Kosovo’s public sphere aimed at inciting religious and ethnic hatred. These individuals knowingly spread unsubstantiated claims, which have never been corroborated by the Kosovo Government or Police. Representatives of KFOR, EULEX, and the international community are well aware of the facts.

Spreading such misinformation does not contribute to de-escalating tensions; instead, it exacerbates ethnic and religious intolerance in Kosovo and Metohija, which is detrimental to both Serbs and Albanians in the region.

For the past 30 years, our Church has consistently called for the peaceful resolution of all issues in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel.