Session on Reçak Massacre Suspended, 21 Defendants Tried in Absentia

The Basic Court in Prishtina has temporarily suspended the initial hearing session for the 21 individuals accused in connection with the Reçak Massacre, due to some technical difficulties. This was announced by the Special Department of this court through an official statement.

The judicial process is taking place without the presence of the accused, who are facing charges of war crimes against civilians during the conflict in Kosovo. The list includes the names: Zllatomir Peshiq, Mlladen Cirkoviq, Radomir Markoviq, Dushko Adamoviq, Obrad Stevanoviq, Zhivko Trajkoviq, Goran Radosavleviq, Bogolub Janiçqviq, Sllavisha Ivanoviq, Boshko Vukiqeviq, Sreten Popoviq, Nikolla Petroviq, Kërsman Jellliq, Lubisha Stojimiroviq, Bozhidar Deliq, Radojko Stefanoviq, Dragan Zhivanoviq, Milosh Gjoshan, Lubinko Cvetiq, Bozhidar Filiq and Milovan Kovaçeviq.

These individuals are accused of the criminal offense “War crimes against the civilian population”. According to the notice distributed on the social network Facebook, the technical obstacles led to the interruption of the session, while judicial authorities have not yet provided details on when the process will resume.

The court had decided that the trial be held in absentia, following a proposal from the Special Prosecution of Kosovo. This decision was taken since the defendants were not accessible to the justice authorities at the time of the indictment, and efforts to locate them had failed.

Also, the court had previously made a public call to all defendants, inviting them to appear voluntarily and surrender to the criminal prosecution institutions of Kosovo. Today’s session marks the beginning of one of the most important judicial processes for war crimes undertaken by the domestic justice system.