Judgment of 21 Indictees for Recak Massacre Begins in July

So confirmed for “Justice Vow“, Mirlinda Gashi, spokeswoman for the Foundation Court in Pristina, broadcasts Periscope.

The Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo on December 30th 2025 has filed charges, with proposals for trial in absentia, against 21 persons for criminal work “The purpose of the fight against the civilian population”, specifically for the Recak massacre. They are charged with killing 42 civilians on January 15, 1999.

The defendant O.S.,R. M., K.J., G. R., R.T., B. J., M. L., R. M., D. DJ, B.M., D. J., M. ., D.A., S. V. , B. M., Mr. S., M. J., G. P., D. N., c. A. and Mr. J., charged that during an operation of Serbian police forces, on January 15, 1999, in the village of Recak of the Shtime municipality, 40 and two (42) civilians have been killed”, the prosecution's announcement said.

The accused are charged with how members of the former Yugoslav Army and as members of the Serbian MUP have also conducted inhumane treatment, destruction of property, mass deportation and ethnic cleansing of the civilian population.

“According to the indictment, in 1998 1999 1999, defendants, in co-ordination, as members of the former Yugoslavia Army, the Mechanised Brigade Atje243, Armatta III, known as Pristina's Chrpus, as well as members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), have also conducted inhumane treatment, destruction of property, mass deportation and ethnic cleansing of the civil population<2>, the report said.

According to the SPRK, investigations have proven that defendants have exercised physical violence against civilians, beating them with weapons charges, kicks, wood, chains and other strong means.

The defendants first surrounded the village of Recak from places called {Pishhat“, XEWS“and CHAesta“. Then, from distance they grenadeged the village with military vehicles, searched from house to house, and separated the men from the women and children, where they were forced to leave the village, while the forbidden men were executed. Investigations have proved that defendants have exercised physical violence against civilians, beating them with arms embroidery, kicking, wood, chains, and other strong means. About 20,000 residents of the villages of Recak, Topill, Petrova, Kras, Mullapolc, Dremek had been expelled from their homes”, reported. PSRK.

The Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo, based on the penal procedure code, has proposed the Constitutional Court in Pristina to keep judgment in absence, since defendants are unable to access justice organs. / Periscope/