13.12.2024. » 14:53
#17 Dragisa Milenkovic faces trial for war crimes: The witness states that the accused and an another Albanian person mistreated us in the most inhuman way
Dragisa Milenkovic faces trial for war crimes: The witness states that the accused and an another Albanian person mistreated us in the most inhuman way
Three witnesses testified today, November 12, 2024, in the Basic Court of Prishtina, in the trial of Dragisa Milenkovic, accused of war crimes in Kosovo.
Dragisa Milenković is accused of committing acts considered war crimes against the civilian population during the last war in 1999, in his capacity as an official at the Prishtina and Lipjan prisons.
The first to testify was the witness Ramadan Nishori.
He said that he had known the accused since September 1998 and stated that he had experienced torture in the Prishtina Prison. “I know Dragisha Millenković sinnce September 28, 1998, the day I was imprisoned.
He was a guard. This person, along with an Albanian named Gani Tara, tortured us in the most inhumane way, initially by taking us off the bus to bring us to the prison, right there in Prishtina Prison.
Even Gani Tara had a wrench; it was a big wrench.
This person, along with others, tortured us, beat us... they put us in the bathroom, washed us with cold water, and while we were wet, they beat us as much as they could,” stated witness Ramadan Nishori.
The witness declared that he was 100% certain that the accused Millenković committed these acts of torture.
“Not 100%, but 1,000% certain,” said witness Ramadan Nishori.
Furthermore, the witness stated that they were beaten solely because they were Albanian.
“Just because we are Albanian, according to them, we were terrorists...” said witness Nishori.
Witness Nishori declared that in the Prishtina Prison, he was tortured by the accused Millenković, while in Lipjan Prison, he was not, as the accused Millenković was not responsible for the wing where he was located.
“I saw him in Lipjan, but this person did not torture me in Lipjan,” said Nishori.
The witness stated that they stayed in Lipjan Prison until June 10, 1999, after which they were transferred to Niš.
Further, witness Ramadan Nishori said that he saw in the media on Facebook when the accused Dragisa Millenković was arrested and commented on the news about his arrest.
He said that afterward, he was called by the Kosovo Police to give a statement.
The hearing was briefly closed to the public during the testimony of Mr. Nishori.
The hearing then continued in the afternoon with the testimony of witness Xhavit Zariqi.
He stated that he was arrested in June 1998, accused of terrorism.
Witness Zariqi declared that the behavior of the guards was extremely cruel and that during that time, they did not even have enough food.
“During the time I stayed there in prison, it’s hard to describe it, it was a nightmare, and only those who were there can understand the reality. There was constant violence, torture, and insufficient food,” stated the witness, Zariqi.
Witness Xhavit Zariqi said he did not know the accused Milenković personally, neither by name nor by appearance.
Witness Ylber Topalli also testified in the Tuesday’s hearing.
Witness Topalli stated that he was arrested in June 1998 and accused of terrorism.
Witness Topalli declared that he was also sent to the Belgrade Prison, where he experienced numerous acts of torture and mistreatment.
During his statement, witness Ylber Topalli said that he saw the accused Millenković three times. Asked by the defense attorney of the accused, lawyer Dejan Vasić, regarding the identification of the accused Milenković by the police, witness Topalli said that he could identify him only from the side profile, but not face-to-face.
He added that he remembered the accused Millenković’s jawline as a distinguishing feature.
Lawyer Dejan Vasić raised objections to the trial panel during the testimony of the witness Topalli, alleging that they were answering for him.
Regarding the lawyer’s objection, Presiding Judge Kujtim Krasniqi said that they were merely recording the witness’s testimony and not answering for him.
Due to the end of working hours, the hearing was adjourned.
What does the prosecution file say?
Milenković is accused of committing acts considered war crimes against the civilian population during the last war in 1999, in his capacity as an official at the Prishtina and Lipjan prisons.
He was arrested by the Kosovo Police on June 21, 2023, and his arrest was protested in Graçanica.
Milenković was brought before the Prishtina Court on June 22, 2023, and was placed on pretrial detention. Milenković is accused of forcing prisoners transferred from Dubrava Prison to Prishtina and Lipjan Prisons to pass through a cordon and hitting them with batons, punches, and kicks.
According to the Prosecutor’s file, the prisoners were systematically subjected to inhumane treatment, including torture, mistreatment, threats to their lives, causing severe physical injuries, and health consequences.
In addition to this, the prisoners were also subjected to psychological violence, according to the Prosecutor's file.
Millenković is accused of committing these acts in collaboration with three other officials, including the former director of the Prishtina District Prison, Ljubomir Cimburović, and guards Predrag Bradić and Milivoje Ilić.
According to Prosecutor Atdhe Dema, these actions violate the International Geneva 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 the period 1998/1999.
The 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 accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in Croatia.
His trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), based in The Hague, saw no closure as Milošević died on March 11, 2006 in his cell while in custody.
Milan Milutinovic, Former President of Serbia, was acquitted of war crimes during the conflict in Kosovo. Nikola Sainovic, 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 in prison for crimes against humanity. Nebojša Pavković, former commander of the Third Army of the Yugoslav Army, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for crimes against humanity and violation of the laws or customs of war.
Vladimir Lazarević, former commander of the Pristina Corps of the Yugoslav Army, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for crimes against humanity.
Sreten Lukić, former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia’s Kosovo staff, was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war.
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