Kosovo police arrested a Serb identified only by the initials Z.N. on war crimes charges in the city of North Mitrovica on Monday.

“He is suspected of ‘war crimes against the civilian population – sexual violence’ committed during 1999 in the municipality of Vushtrri,” police said in a statement.

According to the statement, the suspect was interviewed in the presence of a defence lawyer and was then sent to detention for 48 hours.

The Serbian government’s Kosovo office reacted angrily to the arrest, describing the police’s actions as “legal persecution and intimidation”.

“We demand that the international community finally begin to guarantee Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija the minimum human and civil rights and conditions for a dignified life, and prevent criminals from Pristina from arresting and mistreating people without evidence,” the office said in a statement.

“The Office for Kosovo and Metohija has provided a lawyer to the arrested Serb, and will provide him, as it has done in similar cases in the past, all necessary support and assistance,” it added.