Serbian-language media outlets published an article yesterday claiming that the confiscation of wine owned by a Serbian citizen in Hoca e Madhe-Rahovec is a new attack by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti against Serbs south of the Ibar.
The article is based on the statement of the head of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Petar Petkovic, who claims in a tendentious and unfounded manner, evaluating the confiscation of 40 thousand liters of wine from Serbian citizen Petrovic in Hoca e Madhe, Rahovec, as a new attack by Albin Kurti against the Serbs of the south, and that the citizens reacted to defend this terror by Kurti.
These claims by the head of this office, which took place in the Serbian media, have been denied by the relevant and legitimate institution, Kosovo Customs.
Link to the article published in Serbian-language media:
https://informer.rs/vesti/politika/754793/kurti-ponovo-udario-srbe-juzno-ibra-velika-hoca
Parts of the article published by the Serbian language media:
Albin Kurti today again attacked Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, sending his police to the center of Greater Hoca.
The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, has shared information on his Twitter profile about a new attack on Serbs, this time south of the Ibar.
– Kurti's new attack on Serbs south of the Ibar. He sent his police to the center of Velika Hoca to confiscate 40.000 liters of wine from one of Petrovic's oldest vineyards. Locals gathered to protect their neighbor because they will not allow Kurti's survival and terror! – Petkovic wrote on Twitter.
Link to Petar Petkovic's statement on Twitter:
Excerpts from the statement made by Petar Petkovic:
Kurti's new attack on Serbs south of the Ibar. He sent his police to the center of Velika Hoca to confiscate 40.000 liters of wine from one of Petrovic's oldest vineyards.
The locals gathered to protect their neighbor because they will not allow Kurti's survival and terror!
Petkovic's claims that the confiscation of thousands of liters of wine owned by a Serbian citizen is Kurti's new attack on this community are unfounded. Apart from these photos, in his Twitter post, Petkovic does not present any other supporting facts to the claim, which could argue that the act was organized by Kurti with a specific purpose against the Serbian community.
Kosovo Customs has called Petkovic's claims about alleged unilateral actions by Kosovo Customs with the confiscation of wine owned by a Serbian citizen, quoted by several Serbian-language media outlets, false.
"Yesterday, several media outlets quoted posts with false claims by a Serbian government official about alleged unilateral actions by Kosovo Customs in confiscating illegally produced alcoholic beverages." (here)
Furthermore, Customs explains the reason for the confiscation of the wine mentioned above, emphasizing the fact that they found the activity of producing alcoholic beverages by a Serbian citizen without authorization from Kosovo Customs within the framework of a routine check.
“Kosovo Customs informs the public that it has conducted a routine inspection of a shop selling alcoholic beverages in the village of Hoçë e Madhe (Orahovac Municipality). Officials have found that in addition to the shop, the responsible person also operates the activity of producing alcoholic beverages without authorization from Kosovo Customs, an action that is in violation of the relevant norms of the Customs and Excise Code. The person also does not have the activity registered as a business with the Business Registration Agency and consequently does not comply with the reporting requirements of the relevant entity for supervising wine production.” (here)
As announced by this institution, the confiscation occurred due to the fact that this suspected activity constitutes a criminal offense and a risk to consumer health.
"Since the nature of this suspected act constitutes a criminal offense, Customs has notified the State Prosecutor for further actions. During the inspection, finished products containing alcohol in an amount of approximately 42 thousand liters were found. The person in question acted in complete disregard of legal regulation and caused damage to the budget in the amount of approximately 38 thousand euros only for the part of the obligations for the stock encountered during the inspection. This unregistered business activity, which is not subject to sanitary and hygienic controls, also poses a risk to consumer health." (here)
Customs has emphasized the fact that this was not done intentionally against the Serbian community and that during the relevant procedures it did not encounter any obstacles from local residents, as Petkovic claims.
"In the same village, two authorized businesses operate for the same products, owned by Kosovo citizens of Serbian ethnicity, and they pay all legal obligations. The operation of illegal businesses constitutes unfair competition to legal businesses. Kosovo Customs has implemented the appropriate control administration and procedures in full understanding with the person responsible and has not encountered any obstacles from local residents. (here)
So, as announced by Kosovo Customs, the confiscation of alcoholic beverages owned by a Serbian citizen in Hoçë e Madhe, Rahovec was carried out because his activity was operating without authorization from Kosovo Customs, an action that is in violation of the relevant norms of the Customs and Excise Code. It is also emphasized that during the implementation of the control and adequate procedures, they did not encounter any obstacles from citizens, as Petkovic claims.
Analyze:
Serbian-language media have published an article with unfounded claims by the head of the office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, that the confiscation of wine owned by a Serbian citizen in Hoca e Madhe-Rahovec is a new attack by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti against Serbs south of the Ibar.
Petkovic's claims, besides not being based on facts, were also denied by a legitimate institution, Kosovo Customs, stating that the confiscation in question occurred because this activity was carried out without authorization from this institution.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses that these claims are unfounded and are classified as "manipulation of facts".
Rating:
The evaluation as "Manipulation of facts" is given to those media reports that use facts known to be correct, but interpret them in a distorted way. These reports typically use inaccurate information to draw inaccurate conclusions or claims, thereby misdirecting consumers' conclusions of media content in relation to the actual meaning of the facts presented.