UNMIK Police
Press Release
28-06-02

DAMAGE TO ORTHODOX CEMETARIES

The Serbian Press has published several articles reporting recent acts of widespread vandalism perpetrated against Orthodox cemeteries in the Pristina and Prizren areas.

UNMIK Police have completed a survey to determine if there are signs of recent criminal vandalism to the tombstones and graves in the cemeteries near Orahovac, Livadica and Milosevo villages. The survey has established that most of the damage appears to be not recent. Official statements gathered from people in the villages indicate that the majority of the damage occurred during the second half of 1999 and in 2000. A physical inspection of the sites supported the statements as vegetation, in the form of grass and mushrooms, has grown high around the graves.

However, UNMIK Police did discover some apparently recent criminal damage in the cemeteries of Livadica and Milosevo. An investigation is currently ongoing to identify the perpetrator(s).

This type of crime is most often discovered by relatives of the deceased who are familiar with the condition of the graves and tombstones. UNMIK Police encourage those who discover such crimes to report them as quickly as possible so as to increase the opportunities for Investigators to identify the perpetrator(s).

Anyone with information these or other crimes is asked to call UNMIK Police.

Derek CHAPPELL
Chief of Press & Public Information
Romea PONZA
Public Information Officer

Office of Press and Public Information
UNMIK Police Main HQ, Pristina

The information in this report is accurate to the extent of the information known at the time of it's writing. However, further investigations may result in changes to what previously have been reported.

For more information contact the Office of Press and Public Information, UNMIK Police MHQ
Phone 504-604-5071, 3rd floor, office 72