One-Month Detention Ordered for Two Suspects in War Crimes Against Civilians

The Basic Court in Pristina has ordered one month of detention for each of the suspects, M.J. and M.B., who are suspected of war crimes against the civilian population.

The decision was issued by the pretrial judge following a hearing, approving the detention request submitted by the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo.

According to the court’s assessment, detention is the appropriate measure in this criminal case because there is a real risk that the defendants, if released, could flee to avoid criminal liability. Since they are also Serbian citizens, the court found that they could easily leave and become unreachable by the judicial authorities, which would make it impossible to secure their presence and would hinder the normal conduct of the criminal proceedings.

The court also found that releasing them could create opportunities to influence evidence and witnesses. For this reason, it determined that, for now, detention is the only measure that guarantees the unhindered conduct of proceedings in this criminal case.

The notice states that dissatisfied parties may appeal the ruling to the Court of Appeals through the Basic Court in Pristina.