Five counts of war crimes during 2023, not prosecuted for top responsibilities

In the charges filed for war crimes, the main responsibilities that have issued orders are not being prosecuted. So estimates the Fund for Humanitarian Law in Kosovo, which adds that in most cases, they are recently charged by one person rather than groups.

Moreover, it is considered that there are not sufficient war crimes trials that require more intensive work.

Justice Minister Albulen Haxhiu also claims it is important to follow the entire chain of command for crimes Serbia has committed in Kosovo. It criticises the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, which has failed to increase the number of special prosecutors, even though this has been done by MD.

Special Prosecutor Drita Hajdari says that during this year, five charges against five people have been filed.

Humanitarian Law Fund Director Bekim Blakaj says they are not satisfied with the pace of prosecuting those responsible for war crimes committed in Kosovo, writes KosovaPress

In our annual reports, we usually mention that there are not enough war crimes trials. The number of victims, the number of crimes committed during the war, is extremely large, while on the other hand, we have a very limited number of new subjects or charges. There are a little more charges this year, because acts in absentia have begun, but we cannot be at all satisfied with the pace of prosecution of those responsible for war crimes committed in Kosovo”, Blakaj says.

The charges include, as Blakaj says, more individuals rather than groups that committed crimes.

We have noted that in most war crimes charges are accused by one person, not as a group. While crimes are usually committed in groups, a larger group of perpetrators has committed mass crimes. In the indictment, however, we are seeing individuals, not groups. And those most cases are not the main responsibilities that have committed crimes. They are participants, and they must be prosecuted and tried, but those who are no longer responsible for the crimes committed are not being mocked. It is not the people who have organised or given orders for crimes committed during the war in Kosovo, but some who have helped committed the crime, but are not the main responsibilities”, he adds.

Even Alliance for the Future of Kosovo MP Time Kadriaj says there are large numbers of massacres known to be committed.

Whether the position, regardless of whether it is a low position or high position, all those who committed crimes should be punished and given due punishment. For they have committed crimes, they have killed, they have slaughtered, they have violated, and by every law, even by the laws of war, they must be punished. I think there are many facts, people should not hesitate. All categories, those who have experienced the massacres, those who have lost their families, those who have seen something about these massacres, and in these murders they must denounce and prosecutors deal with these cases”, she says.

And Justice Minister Albulen Haxhiu stresses that it is important to follow the chain of command, since the perpetrators are known by name and surname.

It's very important to follow the chain of command. Crime in Kosovo has committed Serbia as a state. And the names and names of the only who were in these positions are known and should be addressed. One of the massacres also being done in Kosovo is Dubrava's massacre. Very easily known are the names and surnames of responsible persons. The chain of command must be followed because it is more powerful and along with the chain of command to pronounce the” sentences, Haxhi says.

The prosecution of the perpetrators in Kosovo, as Bekim Blakaj points out, changes the arrogance of what actually happened during the war.

It is important to investigate all persons to whom there is evidence, that they may be involved in committing war crimes. I think these investigations would have to be more intense, there would be more charges, and especially there would be charges of mass crimes that took place during the war and there would be judgments or prosecution of the structures that committed crimes. So not only individuals, but all those who co-operated or who were joint criminal enterprise for committing crimes in Kosovo. Because following one by one and not the main responsibilities, then I'm afraid that a little bit is being changed for future generations of tertiaries that come out of prosecution or trial can change the picture of what happened during the war in Kosovo”, he concludes.

In Kosovo, responsibility for war crimes investigation by 2018 has been held U n NMIC, after independence, even the mission EULEX. The powers have already been passed to the Special Prosecutor. During the last war, over 13 thousand civilians were killed and slaughtered, sexually raped by some 20,000 women and men. Meanwhile, more than 1600 people are still unknown.