Trial opens today for 21 individuals accused of war crimes in Kosovo

Today, at the premises of the Basic Court of Pristina, the first hearing will be held against 21 individuals facing charges of war crimes against the civilian population.

At the suggestion of the Special Prosecution, the trial will proceed without the presence of the defendants, because the judicial authorities have not been able to locate them.

The list of the accused includes the following 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. They are accused of committing the criminal offense of “War crimes against the civilian population.”

The Court has announced that, responding to the request of the Kosovo Special Prosecution, the trial will proceed in absentia, because the defendants were not available to the prosecuting authorities up to the moment the indictment was filed.

The Court has issued a public call to all persons involved to surrender voluntarily to the criminal prosecution institutions in the Republic of Kosovo. Today’s session marks the start of one of the most significant and extensive war crimes trials undertaken by Kosovo’s justice system to date.