Hearing held for 53 defendants tried in absentia over the Meja massacre

The Basic Court in Pristina today opened the first hearing in the case of 53 people facing charges over the massacre in Meja and areas surrounding Gjakova, in which 377 civilians were killed on April 27, 1999.

Kosovo’s Special Prosecution has requested that the trial be conducted in the defendants’ absence, as none of them could be located by the time the indictment was filed.

The defendants face a series of serious charges, including murder, torture, inhumane treatment, threats, destruction of property, as well as the mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing of the Albanian population.

The indictment in the case was filed on December 8, 2023, and all the individuals named in it are being tried in absentia.

The list of defendants includes: Momir Stojanoviq, Sreten Çamoviq, Nikola Miqunoviq, Milovan Kovaçeviq, Sergej Peroviq, Verolub Zhivkoviq, Milan Kotur, Radomir Çoliq, Dragutin Josifoviq, Franko Simatoviq, Momçilo Stanojeviq, Vllatko Vukoviq, Ilija Todorov, Stevo Kaponja, Dragan Zhivanoviq, Millosh Gjoshan, Danilo Zeçeviq, Dimitrije Rashoviq, Millosh Shçepanoviq, Predrag Stojanoviq, Aleksandar Pekoviq, Zhivko Vuksanoviq, Millutin Novakoviq, Sokol Abazi, Novica Stankoviq, Misho Popoviq, Millan Noviqeviq, Nenad Rajiçeviq, Muharrem Ibraj, Millan Slavkoviq, Dragan Isailloviq, Sasha Antiq, Zllatko Odak, Savo Lekiq, Dragan Raciq, Milladin Novakoviq, Dragan Pekoviq, Njegosh Prashqeviq, Dushan Prashqeviq, Ranko Vukadinoviq, Momçilo Stijoviq, Dushan Nedoviq, Gjokica Mihajloviq, Mirash Gegoviq, Zoran Mirkoviq, Aleksandar Miqunoviq, Llazar Drashkoviq, Mihill Abazi, Momçilo Novakoviq, Marko Abramoviq, Smajl Beqiri, Momçilo Pantiq and Predrag Miqunoviq.

According to the indictment, the defendants are accused of serious violations of international humanitarian law, specifically Common Article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, and their Additional Protocols, by committing acts including murder, torture, inhumane treatment, intimidation, destruction of property, as well as the mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing of the Albanian civilian population.

Between April 27 and 29, 1999, combined Serbian police and military forces, under the command of the aforementioned defendants, carried out a large-scale, organized offensive against ethnic Albanian civilians in the municipality of Gjakova. The attack included the villages of Mejë, Korenicë, Junik, Vogovë, Devë, Zhub, Batushë, Koshare, Molliq, Brovinë, Nivokaz, Morinë, Berjahë, Ponoshec, Pacaj, Dobrosh, Sheremet, Dallashaj, Rracaj, Stubëll, Nec, Smolicë, Popoc, Shishman, Babaj Bokës, Ramoc, Rrypaj, Madanaj, Orize, Duzhnjë, Guskë and Brekoc.