Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office indicts 35 people over the killing of members of the Jashari family in Prekaz

The Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment in absentia against 35 people for war crimes in the Jashari neighborhood of Prekaz in 1998.

The defendants, who held senior command positions within the structures of the Serbian police’s special units, are accused of killing civilians.

“The evidence gathered has established that 26 civilians were killed in this attack, including children, women and elderly people,” prosecutor Valdet Gashi said.

According to Gashi, based on the evidence gathered about the events of March 5, 6 and 7, 1998, the prosecution has established “which units of the Serbian forces took part in the attack, the positions from which they attacked, the activities of each of the defendants, the arsenal of weapons used, and the damage caused both to people and property.”

Special Prosecutor Blerim Isufaj described it as an indictment of particular importance and said it demonstrated the commitment of the institution he leads to addressing war crimes and seeking criminal accountability, regardless of the complexity of the case and the time that has passed since the crimes were committed.