Indictment against 35 people over operation in Lower Prekaz

The Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo has filed an indictment against 35 defendants and requested that the trial be conducted in absentia. They are suspected of the criminal offense of “war crimes against the civilian population.”

The accused, identified by the initials J.S., V.D., S.L., G.R., M.U., Z.T., Z.S., S.V., B.C., Z.M., R.S., V.T., B.P., R.M., M.S., S.I., N.S., B.F., Z.B., C.B., Z.R., D.I., S.M., V.J., M.L., R.C., S.P., N.M., V.R., D.Z., O.S., B.D., L.C., I.T. and M.B., are suspected of having been commanders of the Serbian Police Special Units.

According to the indictment, in this role they organized, coordinated and led an armed operation against the Jasharaj neighborhood in Lower Prekaz.

The Special Prosecution Office alleges that the attack was carried out with heavy artillery, tanks and other military vehicles, even though many civilians were present in the area.

The indictment states that civilians were killed during the operation, including women, children and elderly people. Civilians were also allegedly taken hostage and subjected to mistreatment and torture, while civilian buildings and infrastructure were damaged and destroyed.

Around 23 police units took part in the operation. Among them was the Special Operations Unit, commanded by M.U., known by the nickname “Legia.”

The indictment document states that the Jasharaj neighborhood was kept under constant surveillance and control from the beginning of January 1998 until the operation ended after March 7, 1998.

Blerim Isufaj, chief prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office, said the indictment was built on a careful, professional and evidence-based process.

Isufaj stressed that the indictment demonstrates the continued commitment to addressing war crimes and holding those responsible criminally accountable, regardless of the complexity of the cases and the years that have passed since they were committed.

Prosecutor Valdet Gashi described the case as one of the most complex and challenging investigations.

He said the intensive work of the Special Prosecution Office staff, together with close cooperation with the Kosovo Police and other institutions in the country, made it possible to reach the stage of filing the indictment.

The case file has now been forwarded for review to the Basic Court in Pristina, specifically its Special Department.