Witness Halit Gashi has spoken out against the decision to sentence Millorad Gjokoviq to 10 years in prison after he was found guilty of war crimes against the civilian population. He called for the killings of Albanian civilians in Ozdrim, Peja, to also be included in the appeals proceedings.
Following the verdict handed down by the Basic Court in Pristina, Gashi said that no sentence could bring the victims back to life. According to him, the indictment did not include the killings for which the families are seeking justice, reports Ekonomia Online.
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“The lives of the people who were unjustly killed cannot be brought back by any sentence, but uncovering the truth is a duty owed to their blood. The Krasniqi, Shalë, Morina, Gashi and Husaj families lost their loved ones, but their names were not mentioned in the indictment. It included only 40 people who were imprisoned and mistreated, while no sentence was handed down for the killings. This is not justice,” Gashi said.
He announced that the decision would be appealed and called on local and international institutions to engage in addressing the case.
“I do not understand what kind of sentence this is. It is laughable. Where is justice, where are the killings and where are the bodies? We carried out the autopsies. We will immediately submit the appeal. I call on national and international representatives to take part in this process, so that it can be seen where the matter stands,” he said.
Gashi praised the work of the Prosecution, but called for other cases of killings to be investigated and clarified, which, according to him, took place during the offensive in Ozdrim on May 7, 1999.
“The Prosecution has done sufficient work, but the cases of the killings must be cleared up. We are talking about 14 people who were killed, including elderly people, young men and young women, innocent people who must receive justice. An 18-year-old boy was taken to hospital while wounded, transported 12 kilometers away to Lutogllavë, and buried there. We found the victims, the examinations were carried out, and we have all the facts, evidence and testimonies. I call on local and international actors to deal with this case and with the genocide committed in Ozdrim on May 7, 1999,” he said.
The Basic Court in Pristina found Millorad Gjokoviq guilty of war crimes against the civilian population and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
The verdict was announced by the presiding judge, Donika Shala-Abdyli.
