Initial hearing for 55 people accused of war crimes to be held on September 15

The Pristina Basic Court, specifically its Special Department, has announced that the initial hearing in criminal case PS No. 66/2023 will be held on September 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The hearing will take place in Building D of the Palace of Justice in Hajvali and will be presided over by the head of the trial panel, Violeta Namani-Hajra.

The case concerns the indictment filed by the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo, PPS No. 60/2010, dated December 23, 2024, against the defendants Momir Stojanoviq, Sreten Çamoviq, Nikolla Miqunoviq, Millovan Kovaçeviq, Sergej Peroviq, Verolub Zhivkoviq, Millan Kotur, Radomir Çoliq, Danillo Zeçeviq, Dragutin Josifoviq, Franko Simatoviq, Momçillo Stanojeviq, Vllatko Vukoviq, Ilija Todorov, Stevo Kaponja, Dragan Zhivanoviq, Millosh Gjoshаn, Predrag Stojanoviq, Dimitrije Rashoviq, Millosh Shqepanoviq, 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 Llekiq, Dragan Raciq, Milladin Novakoviq, Dragan Pekoviq, Njegosh Prashçeviq, Zoran Mirkoviq, Dushan Prashçeviq, Ranko Vukadinoviq, Momçillo Stijoviq, Dushan Nedoviq, Gjokica Mihajlloviq, Mirash Gegoviq, Aleksandar Miqunoviq, Llazar Drashkoviq, Mihill Abazi, Momçillo Novakoviq, Marko Abramoviq, Smajl Beqiri, Momçillo Pantiq and Predrag Miqunoviq.

They are accused of the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population, as provided for under Article 142, in conjunction with Article 22 of the Criminal Code of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Under current legislation, the offense is criminalized under Articles 144, 145, 146 and 147, in conjunction with Article 31 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

At the request of the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo, the court proceedings will be conducted in the absence of the defendants, as they had not been accessible up to the time the indictment was filed.

The court has called on the accused to appear and surrender to the law enforcement authorities of the Republic of Kosovo.

At the same time, anyone with important information about the whereabouts of the accused is invited to forward that information to the Kosovo Police or other competent institutions.

The indictment and the summonses for the hearing have been made available on the court’s website and in the Official Gazette.

The Pristina Basic Court said it would also inform the public about future developments related to this criminal case.