For one year, three people were convicted of war crimes, department strengthening required

Several people are found at the bank of war crimes indictees.

But within 2023, only three court processes against war crimes indictees in Kosovo ended with an all-powerful act of justice.

This was made known in this research, published by the Fund for Humanitarian Law in Kosovo.

“over the past year, with the almighty decision, three people have been convicted, so it's Svetomir Baccevic, who has been convicted of war crimes against the civilian population, for hostageing an elderly woman. Then, Remzi Shala has been convicted of war crimes against the civilian population, and Zoran Vukotic, for the criminal offence, as war crime”, Amer Alija, from the Fund for Humanitarian Law in Kosovo said.

And the pursuit of those who committed war crimes in Kosovo remains the competence of Kosovo's Special Prosecutor.

The number of prosecutors engaged in this regard, there are only three left.

“Exactly, the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo has three prosecutors profiled for the prosecution and investigation of war crimes -- from four so far -- because prosecutor Drita Hajdari has retired”, has told about Tve1, Bedri Gashi U.d. Head of the KPK Public Communication Unit.

Amer Alia from the Fund for Humanitarian Law in Kosovo, says this number of special prosecutors in this department is not enough.

We think this department should be empowered, not only by prosecutors, but also by professional staff, analysts and collaborators, who will assist the Special Prosecutor in the investigation and establishment of the indictment”, he says.

That the Special Prosecutor has a considerable lack of capacity, says judicial expert Ardian Bajraktari.

However, Bajraktari adds that the year 2023 was quite efficient in one direction.

“Viti 2023 in my conviction, has been an effective year in addressing this problem, because we have a significant number of deeds raised, eight of which are only for trial in absence, and I hope that the prosecution has made maximum efforts towards fulfilling legal obligations”, has praised Bajraktari.

By contrast, in researching the Fund for Humanitarian Law in Kosovo, it is estimated that the war crimes judicial procedures have been conducted within a reasonable time.