Two Swiss citizens have been expelled from Serbia after a court nullified their prison sentences, which were originally given for making the eagle hand gesture, symbolizing "Greater Albania" according to Serbian prosecutors. This gesture, representing the double-headed eagle on the Albanian flag, is widely recognized by Albanians worldwide, including in Kosovo—a territory whose independence Serbia does not acknowledge.
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| Xhaka and Shaqiri performing the symbol of the Albanian eagle when the latter scored a goal against Serbia in the jersey of Switzerland in the 2016 European Championship |
The expulsion of the individuals, identified as B.C. and G.V., followed an agreement reached with Serbian prosecutors. Authorities stated that B.C. was convicted of inciting national, racial, and religious hatred and intolerance by photographing G.V. as he made the eagle gesture, REL reports.
Initially, G.V. had received a one-year prison sentence, and B.C. was sentenced to six months. However, after the agreement, both sentences were annulled, and the two individuals were banned from entering Serbia for the next ten years.
In Serbia, this gesture is often viewed as a nationalist provocation, and it has sparked significant reactions in the past. For example, Swiss footballer Granit Xhaka, who is of Kosovar origin, famously made the eagle gesture after scoring a goal, followed by his teammate Xherdan Shaqiri, also of Kosovar heritage, during Switzerland's match against Serbia in the 2018 World Cup. The gesture by the players led to fines from FIFA and stirred considerable controversy and anger in Serbia.
This latest incident underscores the ongoing sensitivity and tensions surrounding national symbols and gestures in the Balkans, reflecting deeper historical and political issues that continue to resonate in the region.