Natasha Kandiq has issued a stark warning, stressing that Serbian police forces knew about the massacre from the moment it occurred, but instead of launching an investigation and arresting those responsible, they ordered the bodies to be buried. According to her, this act reduced the Albanian victims to remains to be concealed, thereby covering up the traces of a serious crime.

The village of Little Kalludra, located in the Municipality of Zubin Potok, is believed to contain a mass grave holding the remains of Albanian civilians missing since the armed conflict in Kosovo. It was one of the most gruesome episodes of that period, in which 23 people lost their lives on April 19, 1999, and evidence about the event has been publicly available since 2013. Nevertheless, the authorities have taken no substantive investigative action to date.

Information about the possible location of the mass grave came to light on January 7, 2013, when the Albanian-language daily “Zëri” published an article accompanied by testimony from a Serb named Ranko Tepavac. He described the execution of 23 Albanian civilians and their secret burial in the stream running through the village of Little Kalludra. According to an article by Natasha Kandiq, head of the Belgrade-based Humanitarian Law Fund, published on the Peshçanik portal, Tepavac had given this account to UNMIK and Kosovo Police investigators as early as February 7, 2003.

According to Kandiq’s account, Tepavac described the event in full detail: during the war, he was in Great Kalludra and saw a column of unarmed Albanians stopped by a group led by Jovica Utviq, who was from Little Kalludra. After robbing them of their money and valuables and assuring them that he would allow them to continue toward Ulcinj, Utviq suddenly ordered them to turn back and then opened fire on them without mercy. A villager immediately alerted the police to what had happened. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and, as Tepavac testified, issued a horrifying order: “Bury those you killed.”

Neither the Humanitarian Law Fund in Belgrade nor its Kosovo branch has any evidence that UNMIK or the Kosovo Police took even the slightest action after 2003 to inspect the suspected site or initiate criminal proceedings.

A detailed reconstruction of the victims’ fatal journey was published in 2024 in the second volume of the Kosovo Memory Book, titled “Dignity for the Missing,” published by the Humanitarian Law Fund in Belgrade.

In early April 1999, activists from the Democratic League of Kosovo in Mitrovica were alarmed by reports that the Serbian Police had begun a wave of arrests targeting prominent members of the political party. Fearing for their safety, several of them, including Faruk Spahiu, who would later serve as mayor of South Mitrovica from 2000 to 2005, Adem Beqiri, Adem Ademi, Sahit Berani, Hasan Dërvari and Demir Ahmeti, took refuge in the village of Kotorr. There they met Xhafer Behrami, a guide with extensive knowledge of the area, who agreed to lead them through the mountains toward the border with Montenegro. Many others soon joined the group, bringing the total to around 20 people, including members of the Mëziu and Ujkani families, as well as Idriz Rrecaj.

At around three in the afternoon on April 19, 1999, the group set out from Kotorr toward Montenegro. Xhafer Behrami had warned them that the journey was extremely dangerous, but no one turned back. Shaban Abazi, a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army equipped with explosives, also traveled with them.

The group walked throughout the night through the forests near Prevllaka. At one point, after noticing lights in the distance and fearing they might belong to enemy forces, the group scattered and lost contact with one another. Although they shouted out, the wind drowned out their voices, and they reunited only after about 20 minutes. At that point, they discovered that three of them — Xhevat Llausha, Faruk Spahiu and Ismet Ferizi — were no longer with the group.

In testimony given to the Humanitarian Law Fund in Belgrade in 2001, Faruk Spahiu said that as soon as he spotted the lights, he dropped to the ground and remained motionless. His companions, Ismet Ferizi and Xhevat Llausha, did the same. They then continued walking eastward, slept in an unoccupied home and were captured the next day in Zubin Potok by an armed Serb, who handed them over at the police station. After being questioned, all three were released and managed to return to Mitrovica.

The rest of the group, meanwhile, continued toward Little Kalludra. From an elevated position, they spotted Serbian forces on the hill opposite them, and someone shouted for them to flee as quickly as possible. A gunshot followed the warning, and then came an order to stop. According to Xhafer Behrami’s 2021 account, only Demir Ahmeti and Shaban Abazi managed to run away, with Behrami following behind them. The others turned back toward the stream.

Near the village of Dren, Demir Ahmeti decided to surrender and approached the home of a Serbian forest ranger known as Lane. Behrami recalled hearing Demir call out the forester’s name, but no gunshot was heard. One day later, Behrami and Abazi had returned to Kotorr. After the war ended, Behrami learned that Xhevat, Faruk and Ismet, who had lost contact with the group on that fateful night, had managed to survive the ordeal.

In her article published by Peshçanik, Natasha Kandiq alleges that UNMIK and the Kosovo Police had possessed key information about the crime and the burial site since February 2003, but there is no indication that a serious investigation or inspection of the site was ever conducted. Such conduct, she stresses, along with the prolonged institutional silence, perpetuates the stripping of the victims’ human dignity: they have been denied the right to have a name and a proper funeral ceremony, while their families have been deprived of the opportunity to learn the truth, to have a grave at which to mourn and a place at which to remember them.

According to preliminary data, on that tragic date, April 19, 1999, 23 Albanians disappeared in the Drenica and Kalludra area, within the territory of Zubin Potok. They were the so-called “group of intellectuals,” most of whom lived in the Mitrovica region. Even after more than 27 years, the mystery surrounding their fate has yet to receive a definitive answer.

Kosovo institutions have repeatedly stated that official records confirm the Yugoslav Army’s involvement in this crime, and they have consistently called for regional cooperation and the opening of secret archives to shed light on the case. It is hoped that future excavations at the site will provide the key to solving one of the darkest and most brutal wartime crimes committed by Serbian forces in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the missing people continue to demand the truth and justice, even after all these decades.

Tamara Nikçeviq, an RTK contributor, covers developments in the region.

The post The Mystery of Little Kalludra: 27 Years in Pursuit of the Truth About 23 Missing People appeared first on Albeu.com.

A new report by the Ombudsperson has highlighted the failures of Kosovo’s education system to provide deaf children with proper education and the use of sign language. According to the findings, students with hearing impairments continue to lag behind even after completing high school.

The investigation was launched after alarming signals from citizens and non-governmental organizations, which showed that many deaf young people, despite high academic success in school, cannot read or write at the expected level. This situation called into question the true quality of education they receive.

During the process, the Ombudsperson’s institution contacted the “Mother Teresa” Resource Center in Prizren and sought explanations from the Ministry of Education and Science. The questions focused on curricula, teacher qualifications, availability of sign language, and concrete strategies to ensure inclusive education for these students.

The report concludes that, although the Constitution and laws in force guarantee the right to education, deaf children face deep barriers in practice. The pronounced lack of teachers trained in sign language, support specialists, interpreters, as well as the absence of adapted textbooks and fair assessment systems, is seriously harming their educational development and exposing them to the risk of discrimination.

To address these problems, the Ombudsperson has directed several key recommendations to the Ministry of Education. Among them are: full implementation of inclusive education policies, engagement of a multidisciplinary team at the “Mother Teresa” Resource Center, increased professional training for teaching staff and interpreters, and the establishment of a regular inspection system to closely monitor the quality of teaching.

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The trial of Elijon Hoxhaj, Erion Susuri, Arbër Hoxhaj and Orhan Ademaj in connection with an attempted aggravated murder case continued on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the Prizren Court.

According to the indictment, Elijon Hoxhaj is charged with attempted aggravated murder. Erion Susuri, Arbër Hoxhaj and Orhan Ademaj are accused of aiding the commission of attempted aggravated murder.

Three witnesses testified before the trial panel, presenting their accounts of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Responding to questions from prosecutor Ervehe Gashi, witness Y.Z. said that she and F.P. were returning home when they encountered the defendant, Elijon Hoxhaj. Because they knew each other and were friends, he approached and offered to accompany them home.

She said that near “ABI Çarshia,” a black car carrying five people approached them. One of them asked: “Can you give us these girls for one night?” Hoxhaj reacted to the remark, after which the men returned, got out of the vehicle and one of them punched him in the face. During this time, the two girls tried to defuse the situation.

“Elijon said to them: ‘Are you normal? What are you saying?’” Y.Z. testified.

According to the witness, the five men then followed them by car to near the Municipality of Prizren. During the pursuit, they swore at and insulted them while repeatedly signaling for them to stop the car.

In response to questions from attorney Blerim Mazreku, the injured parties’ representative, Y.Z. confirmed that Hoxhaj called someone to ask for help while they were being followed by car. According to her, he said: “Can you come? Some guys are following us.”

“Yes, he called someone, but he did not mention any names,” witness Y.Z. said.

Questioned by Valdrin Gashi, defense attorney for defendant Orhan Ademaj, the witness said she would not be able to identify the men she first saw that night even if she were confronted with them today. She explained that she had been distressed and was focused on trying to restrain the defendant Hoxhaj.

Witness F.P. gave a similar account of the incident. She said the attackers tried to hit Hoxhaj, but the punch passed close to her face before striking him. F.P. added that the same men followed them by car, threatened them with insulting language and demanded that they stop.

“Get out and we’ll show you who we are. Stop the car,” witness F.P. testified, adding that the same men had sworn at and insulted them.

Witness Y.Z., meanwhile, said he became involved in the situation by chance after seeing several people attempting to attack a young man accompanied by two girls. To defuse the situation, he told them to leave and warned them that the police were coming. According to his testimony, Hoxhaj and the two girls drove away after he intervened.

“Leave because the police are coming. I intervened and tried to physically stop those five people, who were heading toward the person accompanied by two women and addressing him with insulting language,” witness Y.Z. said.

Neither prosecutor Ervehe Gashi, injured party attorney Raima Elezi, nor the defendants and their defense attorneys raised any objections regarding the testimony.

The next hearing is scheduled to continue on July 24, 2026.

The Prizren Prosecutor’s Office indictment states that the incident occurred on December 29, 2024, at around 1:45 a.m. Following an earlier dispute in the parking lot of the “ABI Çarshia” Shopping Center, Elijon Hoxhaj allegedly called Erion Susuri, Arbër Hoxhaj and Orhan Ademaj, whom he later met near the “Shell” gas station in Prizren.

Prosecutors allege that the four defendants, using two vehicles, pursued Muharrem Elshani, Lutfi Bislimaj and Albin Elshani.

According to the indictment, the injured parties’ path was blocked near the IPKO building. Eljon Hoxhaj allegedly got out of the car with a knife and stabbed Muharrem Elshani in the right shoulder, Lutfi Bislimaj in the left lumbar area, and Albin Elshani in the leg and forearm, causing them bodily injuries.

For these actions, Eljon Hoxhaj faces charges of attempted aggravated murder and unauthorized ownership, control or possession of weapons.

According to the prosecution, Erion Susuri, Arbër Hoxhaj and Orhan Ademaj assisted in committing the criminal offense by taking part in the pursuit of the injured parties, blocking their vehicle and physically assaulting them. Prosecutors allege that they thereby created the conditions for Hoxhaj to attack the three injured parties with a knife. For this reason, all three are charged with aiding the commission of attempted aggravated murder./Kallxo

The post “Can You Give Us These Girls for One Night?” – Witnesses Recount How Clash That Left Three Injured Began appeared first on Albeu.com.

Sources close to the city’s Main Family Medicine Center (QKMF) reported that approximately 80 people presented for medical assistance with symptoms of food poisoning.

The main suspicions fall on products such as pizzas and sandwiches, which are thought to be the source of the incident.

According to the same sources, four patients who exhibited a more severe health condition were sent for specialized treatment at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK). Fortunately, their condition is currently reported to be stable.

To shed light on the circumstances, a team from the Regional Institute of Public Health has gone to the field. It is learned that inspectors have carried out verifications both at the QKMF premises and at the fast-food outlet suspected as the place where the case began.

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KosovaPress attempted to obtain a statement from the manager of one of the “Sach Pizza” outlets, who responded that he was not authorized to speak and that the company should make the statements.

Official data from the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) show that 22 of the 72 patients who presented themselves were hospitalized. They reported symptoms such as temperature, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Based on the collected anamnesis, the first signs appeared just a few hours after they had eaten the suspected food.

The UCCK statement emphasizes that all hospitalized cases have been communicated to the Health Inspectorate and the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo. They have also been registered in the Communicable Disease Surveillance System, in accordance with established protocols.

The KosovaPress team stayed at the Infectious Disease Clinic and spoke with relatives of those affected, who confirmed that the food consumed before the onset of symptoms was a sandwich from “Sach Pizza” sales points.

A mother, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that her son’s condition had seriously worsened after eating a sandwich. According to her, his temperature reached up to 40 degrees Celsius. She added that her son’s condition had improved today compared to yesterday, but it had been extremely severe. The mother emphasized that all the patients she had communicated with had eaten the same type of food at different “Sach” outlets or had ordered it at home. She mentioned that the case is being investigated by the police and prosecution, and that family members are coordinating to take legal action in court.

Another parent, also anonymous, recounted that her daughter had eaten a sandwich at “Sach Pizza” on Thursday and then faced a series of complications. She complained that the ambulance service did not respond to her request to transport her daughter to the hospital, even though she had lost consciousness. The mother said that they took her to the Emergency Room themselves with the help of her husband and other daughters, before she was transferred to the Infectious Disease unit. According to her, her daughter was in a very bad state for three days and was improving slightly today.

A similar story was shared by the fiancé of a patient, who remained anonymous. He said that his partner had eaten a sandwich at the “Sach” point near the airport, and the first symptoms had started on Saturday in the early morning hours. He confirmed that the doctors were doing their best and warned that they would pursue legal action against the company.

Meanwhile, KosovaPress sources indicate that “Sach Pizza” has withdrawn the sandwiches from sale in all its branches, and that authorities have carried out an inspection at the company’s warehouse in Lipjan.

During the day, the media tried to contact the Food and Veterinary Agency, the Ministry of Health, the Clinical and University Hospital Service of Kosovo, and the Inspectorate, but none of these institutions responded to the calls.

The post Mass poisoning in Pristina, 22 people hospitalized after consuming food at “Sach Pizza” appeared first on Albeu.com.

“Ajo ishte e zënë me familjen e saj”, thotë burimi.

Burimi shton: “Plus, ajo ka punuar shumë në 20 vitet e kaluara. Ajo ka pasur kaq shumë projekte, ka punuar gjatë gjithë kohës”.

Kujtojmë se Bündchen u shfaq e buzëqeshur në Met Gala 2023, eventi i parë pas ndarjes nga ish-bashkëshorti Tom Brady. Supermodelja bëri debutimin e saj në këtë event në vitin 2003.

Pjesëmarrja e saj vitin e kaluar ishte Met Gala e saj e parë në 15 vjet pa Brady, me të cilin u divorcua në tetor 2022. Ish-çifti mori pjesë për herë të parë së bashku në vitin 2008, një vit para se të martoheshin.

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