Excavations begin in Zubin Potok for mortal remains, Hamza: We await the end of the Hague trial, but Serbia has not been held accountable for crimes

Excavations began today in Zubin Potok to search for remains, following indications that a mass grave may be located there. Bedri Hamza, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, stressed that this operation is taking place while the trial against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army is ongoing.

In a post, the PDK leader expressed that after nearly three decades, Albanians still face pain and hope to uncover the fate of thousands of civilians forcibly disappeared during the conflict. He described it as intolerable that, as the conclusion of what he called an unfair judicial process in The Hague against former KLA leaders is awaited, Serbia continues to bear no responsibility for the horrific crimes against the people of Kosovo and holds hostage the truth about the missing.

Hamza recalled that the state has paid an extraordinarily high price for freedom. His hometown, Mitrovica, he said, has been hit hard by this tragedy, with over 100 families still anxiously waiting for answers about their relatives. He specifically mentioned the city’s 23 intellectuals, learned people and important national figures, many of whom were his close friends, who were last seen on April 19, 1999, in the rural areas of Zubin Potok.

In closing, Hamza emphasized that this suffering will end only when the truth prevails and justice is served. He underlined Kosovo’s unwavering commitment to seek the truth for every missing person, to secure justice for the families, and to hold the perpetrators of crimes accountable, calling this a moral, national, and institutional obligation.