08.12.2024. » 20:07
#15 The testimony of two witnesses is heard in the trial of Dragisa Millenkovic for war crimes, one of them a PDK member of parliament
Dragisa Milenković, accused of war crimes in Kosovo, appeared again on 11.11.2024 as defendant at the Prishtina Court. Milenković is charged by the Special Prosecution Office for acts considered war crimes against the civilian population during the 1999 war, committed in his official capacity at Prishtina and Lipjan prisons. In today’s hearing, Isak Shabani, currently MP from the ranks of PDK, gave his testimony.
The witness stated that he was arrested on February 7, 1997, in Pristina. He said he had been kidnapped for 5-6 days by State Security and subjected to extreme maltreatment. “I was arrested on February 7, 1997, in Pristina. I was kidnapped for about 5-6 days by State Security, where I endured extraordinary maltreatment. Besides physical violence, I also experienced electric shock torture. They kept me naked for 5-6 days... A rubber baton broke on my body,” testified witness Isak Shabani. The witness stated that on May 24, 1999, he was transferred to Lipjan Prison.
“On or around May 24, 1999, we were taken back to Lipjan Prison, and there, honestly, I am surprised today that after surviving the execution, all of us witnesses are still alive, and I ask myself... On one occasion, while on the bus transferring us from Dubrava to Lipjan, I overheard a guard saying in Serbian, as I understood the language: “We’ve killed enough,” said witness Isak Shabani. He further recalled a particularly distressing moment when he was forced to surrender a family photograph.
“The hardest moment for me was when they ordered us to empty our pockets; they thought we might have money. I had to give up my family photograph,” said witness Shabani. The witness stated that in Lipjan Prison, they did not have sufficient food.
“They would bring a cup they called soup, but in fact, we couldn’t see anything resembling soup, only water. Five of us would drink half a cup. They only gave us a small piece of bread, and we had to soak it in that soup water to eat it,” testified Isak Shabani. Witness Shabani stated that they stayed in Lipjan Prison until June 10, 1999, after which they were transferred to Nis Prison, where stayed until his release in 2001. He further declared that in Nis Prison, they experienced extreme hunger and insufficient food. “In Nis Prison, the hunger was extraordinary. For at least six months, we never felt full from eating. My only wish in life was to one day eat my fill,” declared witness Isak Shabani.
The witness also stated that he remembers the accused, Dragisa Milenkovic. “I said, I personally remember this Dragisa clearly in Pristina Prison, his behavior. Once, I think, but I cannot say with certainty, he participated in beating me, along with Bradic,” stated the witness. When questioned by prosecutor Atdhe Dema about whether he had seen the accused Dragisa Milenkovic during his time in Lipjan Prison, the witness said he could not recall. “No, I don’t remember... It was a short period from May 24 to June 10. There were hundreds, even thousands of prisoners, so I don’t specifically remember having contact with him," answered witness Shabani.
Additionally, another witness, Muja Prekupi, also gave his testimony. Witness Muja Prekupi stated that he was arrested on January 28, 1997, and the reason for his arrest was his political activity. Witness Prekupi stated that there were moments when prison officials behaved very harshly. The witness said that when they were transferred from Dubrava Prison to Lipjan Prison, they were beaten by the guards.
Witness Muja Prekupi stated that he knows the accused Dragisa Milenkovic and added that the latter did not mistreat him. “I know him as a correctional service worker, a guard at the time. I have no complaints; he never mistreated or hit me,” he said. “However, Dragisa was very active when prisoners from Rahovec were brought in,” added witness Prekupi. The witness stated that prison conditions were poor, and cleaning was done once a week.
“Cleaning was done once a week. When circumstances worsened outside, it became every two weeks. There were times when there was enough food, but they did not give it to us,” stated witness Muja Prekupi. In the morning session, another witness was scheduled to be heard, but due to his absence, the session was adjourned. Further sessions related to this case will continue in the coming days. The trial panel in this case consists of Kujtim Krasniqi, Presiding, and Rrahman Beqiri and Arben Hoti, Member Judges.
What does the prosecution file say?
Milenkovic is accused of committing war crimes against civilians during the last war in 1999, in his official capacity at Pristina and Lipjan Prisons. He was arrested by the Kosovo Police on June 21, 2023, prompting protests in Gračanica over his arrest. Milenkovic was brought before the Pristina Court on June 22, 2023, and remanded in custody. Milenkovic is accused of forcing prisoners transferred from Dubrava Prison to Pristina and Lipjan Prisons to pass through a cordon, during which they were beaten with batons, fists, and kicks. According to the prosecution’s file, the prisoners were systematically treated inhumanely, tortured, mistreated, and threatened with death, causing severe physical injuries and health consequences. In addition, the prisoners were subjected to psychological violence. These actions, according to the prosecution, were carried out by Milenkovic in collaboration with three other officials, including the former director of Pristina District Prison, Lubomir Cimburovic, and guards Predrag Bradiq and Milivoje Ilic.
According to Prosecutor Atdhe Dema, these actions are in violation of the Geneva International Convention. Former senior political and military leaders of the remaining Yugoslavia and Serbia were tried and even convicted for the massacres, other war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo. Former President of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milošević, was accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Serbian and Yugoslav forces in Kosovo. Milošević was also charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. His trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), based in The Hague, did not conclude, as Milošević died on March 11, 2006, in his cell while in detention. Milan Milutinović, former President of Serbia, was acquitted of war crime charges related to the Kosovo conflict. Nikola Šainović, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war. Dragoljub Ojdanić, former Chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army, was sentenced to 15 years for crimes against humanity. Nebojša Pavković, former Commander of the Third Army of the Yugoslav Army, was sentenced to 22 years for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war. Vladimir Lazarević, former Commander of the Pristina Corps of the Yugoslav Army, was sentenced to 14 years for crimes against humanity. Sreten Lukić, former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia's Kosovo staff, was sentenced to 20 years for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war.
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