With the arrest of nine people in Zubin Potok as part of an operation codenamed “File 23,” one of the most serious wartime crime cases in northern Kosovo has returned to the spotlight: the case known as the “Group of Intellectuals.”

The operation by the Special Prosecution and Kosovo Police is linked to investigations into the disappearance and killing of 23 people during the 1999 war. The latest arrests follow the discovery of human remains in Zubin Potok and their identification through DNA analysis.

The case has now taken on a new dimension because the investigations focus not only on identifying the victims, but also on establishing the criminal responsibility of those suspected of taking part in the crimes. For the Special Prosecution and Kosovo Police, “File 23” marks a new step in the investigation of wartime crimes. For the victims’ families, learning the truth about their loved ones’ fate and securing justice remain essential.

But what significance do these arrests have for uncovering wartime crimes in northern Kosovo? Could “File 23” lead to new evidence and criminal charges, and how might the case affect the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families?

After waiting nearly three decades, the families of people who disappeared during the war in Kosovo have a right to answers about their loved ones’ fate and to justice for the victims. Security expert Fidair Berisha says every institutional effort to resolve these cases matters, especially those that have gone for years without a full answer.

Commenting to “Bota sot” on the “File 23” operation and the arrest of nine people in Zubin Potok, Berisha said the development could be particularly significant for the investigation of wartime crimes in Kosovo.

He described the operation and arrests as an important development in investigating and uncovering crimes committed during the war in Kosovo. Their significance is even greater, he said, because they are linked to the case known as the “Group of Intellectuals,” which for many years has left both the victims’ families and the public without a full answer.

Berisha stressed that the investigation should not end with finding and identifying the victims; it must fully establish the circumstances of the killings and disappearances. He cautioned, however, that the arrests are part of an investigative process and do not automatically mean those arrested are guilty. The investigations, he said, must be conducted professionally, based on evidence and in accordance with legal procedures.

Berisha believes “File 23” could bring new developments in resolving the case if investigators obtain sufficient evidence and testimony to establish what happened to the 23 missing intellectuals. He emphasized that the victims’ families have waited years for the truth and that justice should not be delayed any longer. Those responsible, if identified and proven guilty, should face justice and receive the punishment they deserve, he said.

Forensic expert Muhamet Racaj also considers the arrests of nine people in Zubin Potok under the “File 23” operation particularly important for uncovering wartime crimes in northern Kosovo. He stressed that the operation’s significance extends beyond criminal proceedings to forensic investigation and the documentation of the truth about wartime events.

Citing information released by Kosovo Police and the Special Prosecution, Racaj said nine people were arrested on suspicion of war crimes against civilians in a case linked to the “Group of Intellectuals.” From a forensic perspective, he said, the main challenge in an operation of this kind is building a chain of evidence connecting each suspect to a specific criminal act.

Identifying suspects alone is not enough, he stressed. Investigators must build a chain of evidence linking the person, place, time, victim and manner in which the act was committed. Physical and forensic evidence plays a particular role in this process, he said, including human remains, DNA analyses, military documents, communications, electronic records, witness testimony and any other traces that help reconstruct the events.

Racaj also referred to recent developments announced by the authorities, who said preliminary investigations led to the discovery of human remains and identifications through DNA analysis. During the latest operation, he added, phones, military booklets and other materials that the authorities consider important to the case were seized.

On whether “File 23” could lead to progress in securing justice, Racaj said the operation could potentially be an important starting point for further investigations, but the outcome must be determined by the evidence presented in criminal proceedings. An arrest is only one stage of the process and does not imply guilt, he stressed; criminal responsibility must be proven individually for each suspect through due process.

More broadly, Racaj linked the investigation of wartime crimes to Kosovo’s legal and institutional security. A state’s security, he argued, is built not only through a police presence or operational measures, but also through its institutions’ ability to investigate, document and prosecute serious crimes, regardless of when they were committed.

He therefore considers continued professional cooperation among Kosovo Police, the Special Prosecution, forensic experts and forensic services important, calling for the integrity of the evidence to be preserved and the investigation to be grounded in facts. Justice for the victims, he said, means not only identifying them but also scientifically documenting the circumstances of their killing or disappearance and the individual responsibility of those involved.

In closing, Racaj stressed that determining the fate of the missing and prosecuting those responsible, if their guilt is proven, should not be seen merely as a matter of the past, but also as an important part of the country’s future. Wartime crimes must be documented, perpetrators must face justice, and victims must be given the truth, he said.

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