Milorad Ulemek “Legija”, the main suspect in the attack on the Jashari family

Kosovo’s Special Prosecution has filed an indictment for war crimes against civilians in connection with the attack on the Jashari neighborhood in Prekaz, carried out on March 5, 6 and 7, 1998.

According to the case prosecutor, Valdet Gashi, 35 people have been included in the criminal proceedings. Investigators consider them to be former officials who held senior command positions within the structures of the Serbian Police’s special units.

The person at the center of the accusations over the direct attack on the Jashari family is Milorad Ulemek, known as “Legija.” The Special Prosecution claims that at the time he headed Serbia’s Special Operations Unit.

Valdet Gashi said that Ulemek had taken charge of the operation against the home of Shaban Jashari’s family following a request he had made.

“Legija” led the Special Operations Unit and, at his specific request, had the obligation and duty to directly attack the home of Shaban Jashari’s family. According to Gashi, this was also carried out on the ground.

The prosecution says that 26 civilians were killed during the attack, including children, women and elderly people. Residents of the Jashari neighborhood are also suspected of having been held hostage and subjected to mistreatment.

The proceedings have been conducted in absentia, as Kosovo’s authorities have been unable to secure the accused persons’ appearance in court. According to information available to the prosecution, all 35 defendants are still alive.