Special Prosecution has filed charges against 53 people for the Meja Massacre and villages of the Wicked Reca region

According to the prosecution, 16 of these people were located in Serbia's key military and police structures.

“Special Procuroria reports that a joint and well-organised operation was conducted in April 2729 1999 The WJ and MPBs, which included members of the paramilitary groups. In that operation, three hundred and seventy-seven) civilians who did not participate in combat were killed at the time of the murder.

In addition to the murders, the operation included the expulsion of thousands of civilians from that region, the burning of their homes and the violent sending to Albania. These deportations were involved in the mistreatment and seizures of personal deporting documents”, the Prosecution's announcement said.

The defendants with the indictment are charged with criminal acts in co-ordination, the war crimes against the civilian population from Article 142 concerning Article 22 of Yugoslavia's Socialist Federation Law, currently incriminating as the Crime Against Mankind by Article 143 paragraphs 1.1, 1.2, 14, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9 under paragraph 1.4, 1.6, and 1.7 concerning Article 31 of the Kosovo Republic's Criminal Code.

Full announcement:

Pristina, 8 December 2023 The Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo has filed charges today for the massacre of Meja and villages of the Red Reca region of the Gjakova municipality.

Special Prosecution reports that a joint and well-organised operation was conducted in April 27, 1999 The WJ and MPBs, which included members of the paramilitary groups. In that operation, three hundred and seventy-seven) civilians who did not participate in combat were killed at the time of the murder.

In addition to the murders, the operation included the expulsion of thousands of civilians from that region, the burning of their homes and the violent sending to Albania. These deportations were involved in the mistreatment and seizures of personal expulsion documents.

Fifty-three (53) defendants, of whom sixteen (16) were placed in Serbia's key military and police structures, have been charged for the crime.

The defendants with the indictment are charged with criminal acts in co-ordination, the war crimes against the civilian population from Article 142 concerning Article 22 of Yugoslavia's Socialist Federation Law, currently incriminating as the Crime Against Mankind by Article 143 paragraphs 1.1, 1.2, 14, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9 under paragraph 1.4, 1.6, and 1.7 concerning Article 31 of the Kosovo Republic's Criminal Code.