The Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kosovo announced at a press conference that it had filed an indictment for war crimes committed in the Jashari family neighborhood in Prekaz, Skenderaj.

Chief Prosecutor Blerim Isufaj described the development as an important moment for justice and public opinion. He underlined that this was the first indictment related to the killing of Albanian civilians from the Jashari family in Prekaz.

Isufaj said the indictment had been drawn up following professional, careful and evidence-based work, in accordance with the mandate and legal responsibilities of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. According to him, the document concerns the killing of civilians from the Jashari family in Prekaz, Skenderaj, and constitutes the first indictment related to this event, eo reports.

The review of the indictment and the evidence now falls to the court, which must assess them in accordance with the law and fair-trial standards. The chief prosecutor said the case prosecutors had worked with heightened care, with the aim of proving the allegations presented before the court.

According to Isufaj, this indictment shows that the institutions continue to seek criminal accountability for war crimes, despite the complexity of the cases and the long time that has passed since they were committed.

During the conference, the head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office also spoke about other investigations that remain active, including the case involving war crimes in Zubin Potok. He announced that the fourth suspect had also been arrested in this case, but explained that he could not provide details because the investigation was ongoing.

Isufaj stressed that the same position applied to every other case currently in the investigation phase. He said the Special Prosecutor’s Office remained committed to the rule of law, conducting investigations professionally, independently and impartially, and prosecuting individuals against whom there was a legal basis and sufficient evidence.

He also announced that in recent weeks an important indictment for espionage had been filed and that a person suspected of a criminal offense of this nature had been arrested.

Isufaj also praised cooperation with international partners in the fields of security and justice. He mentioned the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Europol, Eurojust and other justice authorities, stressing that this cooperation demonstrated that the Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kosovo was a steadfast and reliable partner.

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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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