Special Prosecution Charges 20 People with War Crimes in Gjakova, Including Milan Radoičić

The Kosovo Special Prosecution Office has filed an indictment against 20 people for war crimes committed in Gjakova. Radio Free Europe has learned that Milan Radoičić is among the defendants.

According to the indictment, the group is accused of involvement in the killing of 107 civilians. The Special Prosecution Office has requested that all the defendants be tried in absentia.

The individuals charged with the criminal offense of “war crimes against the civilian population” were identified by the Prosecution Office only by their initials: M.K., R.C., M.D., P.R., S.K., L.O., Zh.S., S.S., L.D., Z.R., D.G., Ç.B., V.B., R.B., R.R., L.R., M.Sh., M.R., S.G. and T.A.

The Prosecution Office alleges that in 1998-1999, M.K., then head of the Secretariat of Internal Affairs in Gjakova; R.Ç., commander of the Special Police units; and M.D., commander of the 52nd Rocket Artillery Brigade, together with the other defendants, including Radoičić, participated in the killing of 107 civilians as members of these units during a “large-scale military-police operation.”

In its statement, the Special Prosecution Office said that, according to the indictment, women and children were initially separated from the men during the operation. The women were stripped of their gold jewelry, money and other valuables, while the men were killed in houses and courtyards, as well as at a location known as “Taliq Bridge.” At the same time, houses were set on fire.