The Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment in absentia against 35 people for war crimes in the Jashari neighborhood of Prekaz in 1998.

The defendants, who held senior command positions within the structures of the Serbian police’s special units, are accused of killing civilians.

“The evidence gathered has established that 26 civilians were killed in this attack, including children, women and elderly people,” prosecutor Valdet Gashi said.

According to Gashi, based on the evidence gathered about the events of March 5, 6 and 7, 1998, the prosecution has established “which units of the Serbian forces took part in the attack, the positions from which they attacked, the activities of each of the defendants, the arsenal of weapons used, and the damage caused both to people and property.”

Special Prosecutor Blerim Isufaj described it as an indictment of particular importance and said it demonstrated the commitment of the institution he leads to addressing war crimes and seeking criminal accountability, regardless of the complexity of the case and the time that has passed since the crimes were committed.

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The institution has not made many details about the case public, but it has stressed that the matter is being treated as a priority and will soon be concluded with the filing of an indictment.

“The Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kosovo informs you that the case is being treated as a priority and that very soon, it will be finalized with the filing of an indictment.”

In this event, 55 people were killed, while 22 of them were close relatives of the legendary commander Adem Jashari, who had long been targeted by the Serbian state.

Lawyer Visar Rrecaj has stated that the Special Prosecutor’s Office has already taken testimony from witnesses who are still alive, while emphasizing that the content of the indictment will be of particular importance.

“The importance of an indictment announced by the Special Prosecutor’s Office is extremely significant both in the legal aspect as well as the national and state aspect, in giving an epilogue to the event involving the Jashari family that occurred in 1998. Whether it is delayed for that part can be discussed, but for justice and the justice system, what matters is that it be complete in detail and lack nothing, because the final epilogue will also be proclaimed on the international stage,” lawyer Visar Rrecaj told Dukagjini.

The announcement of an indictment over the attack on the Jashari family has also been welcomed by the KLA veterans’ organization, although it believes such action should have happened years earlier.

“This case has been delayed a lot, not only this case in the Jashari neighborhood and the Jashari family, but throughout Kosovo. Our courts, including the Supreme Court of Kosovo, have been delayed, but in any case I welcome it and receive it positively. We are very grateful for justice, for the case of the massacre in Prekaz in the Jashari family to be investigated, for our prosecutors to take it in hand and investigate it,” said KLA figure Hysni Gucati.

Investigations into war crimes were previously carried out by UNMIK and later by EULEX, while since 2018 these powers have been assumed by Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor’s Office, which has a special department for handling them.

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