Today begins the trial against 21 people accused of war crimes in Kosovo

At the Basic Court of Prishtina, a preliminary hearing will be held today for the criminal case where 21 defendants face charges for crimes committed during the war against the civilian population.

The Special Department of this court has confirmed that the names appearing in the dock are: 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.

The charge brought against them is for the criminal offense “War crimes against the civilian population”.

According to the court’s official announcement, the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo has requested that the proceedings be conducted in the absence of the defendants, since they have not been reachable up to the stage of filing the indictment.

Through a public statement, the Court has called on the accused to surrender voluntarily to the prosecuting authorities of the Republic of Kosovo.