Several Serbian-language media outlets published an article yesterday (March 8) claiming that two young men were beaten in the village of Jashanicë near Leposavic by members of the Kosovo Police Special Unit, ROSU.
The article is titled "ROSU members beat two young Serbs in the village of Jashanicë near Leposavic" and does not provide any photos from the scene or the protagonists of the event for the claims made.
After verifying the facts, hibrid.info found that the Serbian media outlet's claim has been denied by the relevant institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, specifically the Kosovo Police.
Links to articles published in several Serbian-language media outlets:
https://informer.rs/vesti/politika/776791/rosu-mladici-pretuceni-josanica-kosovo-metohija
Excerpts from articles published in several Serbian-language media outlets:
Members of the Special Police Unit ROSU in the village of Joshanicë near Leposavic have harassed and injured young Serbs L. Đ. (23) and Gj.M. (24), who live in that village. They are in the surgery ward at the KBC in North Mitrovica and their condition is being monitored, but for now they feel well.
As Gj. M confirmed to Kosova online, he and L.Gj. were driving slowly in a car last night when members of Rosu stopped them and took them out next to the car and then started hitting them on the head.
The allegations of some Serbian-language media outlets that in a village in Leposavic two young men of Serbian nationality were beaten/mistreated by police officers, as they call them, the ROSU unit, have been denied by the Kosovo Police.
Through a post on Facebook, the Kosovo Police announced that it has been confirmed that such a case is not the one reported to the Kosovo Police.
"Based on information and official verifications with all police units in the field, including border ones, it has been confirmed that such a case has not been reported to the Kosovo Police, information which has been communicated to interested media, mainly Serbian." (here)
Furthermore, the Kosovo Police has emphasized the fact that it is for providing security to every citizen without distinction, and has requested that in every case, they contact the Kosovo Police, including the media, for official information. (here)
Serbian-language media continue to refer to the Kosovo Police Special Operations Unit as ROSU despite the fact that such a designation is no longer used for the Kosovo Special Operations Unit. (here)
Analyze:
Several Serbian-language media outlets have published an article claiming that two young men were beaten in the village of Jashanicë near Leposavic by members of the Kosovo Police Special Unit, ROSU.
Through a post on Facebook, the Kosovo Police announced that it has been confirmed that such a case is not the one reported to the Kosovo Police.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses this article as "misinformation".
Rating:
A “Disinformation” rating is given to media reporting that contains a “mix” of inaccurate sources or even half-truthful content. This rating will also address reports that have incorrect attributions or headlines that do not reflect the text in terms of information accuracy.