27.12.2024. » 09:16
#20 The Hearing Against Milorad Djoković, accused for “War Crimes” in the Peja Region, is canceled
The hearing scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, in the case of Milorad Djoković, accused of “war crimes” in the Peja region, was canceled.
Milorad Djoković is charged by the Special Prosecution for committing, during 1998–1999 in the village of Ozdrim, Peja, and surrounding areas, acts in violation of the rules of international law. These acts include murder, raids, beatings, mistreatment, arrest, torture, and cruel and inhumane treatment.
Judge Valon Kurtaj’s office informed the public that the reason for the cancellation was the absence of a witness scheduled to testify today.
The judge’s office further stated that the witness could not attend the hearing on December 24, 2024, due to health issues.
The next hearings in this criminal case are scheduled for January 2025.
This case is being tried by the Special Department, with the trial panel consisting of Valon Kurtaj, Presiding Judge, and Arben Hoti and Vesel Ismajli, Members.
What does the prosecution file say?
According to the Prosecution’s file, during the Kosovo War in 1998–1999, in the village Ozdrim in the region of Peja, as well as in the surrounding areas, the defendant violated international law by engaging in acts of murder, raids, beatings, mistreatment, arrests, torture, and cruel and inhumane treatment.
The indictment further accuses Djoković of expelling and deporting dozens of Albanian civilians and subjecting them to conditions of slavery. The victims of these actions were Albanian civilians who did not take part in the conflict.
Additionally, according to the indictment, in the morning of May 1999, Djoković, participating in the Serbian military, police, and paramilitary forces, surrounded Village Ozdrim and initiated a military-police offensive.
The indictment states that the village was attacked from three directions by Serbian military and police forces. As a result of these actions, six Albanian civilians were killed, and three others were injured. The injured individuals were initially taken to Peja Hospital and later, according to the indictment, were executed and buried in the village of Lutogllavë.
Furthermore, the indictment alleges that five more individuals were killed during this offensive, but their bodies were never found and remain listed as missing persons.
During the same military-police operation, in which the defendant also participated, approximately 40 individuals were arrested and detained in a garage known as “Shupa e Shemit,” located near the police substation in Ozdrim. These individuals were held for around three days in inhumane conditions, contrary to all rules of international law.
The indictment specifies that the detainees were deprived of food and drinking water, subjected to physical torture, and, after three days, only 12 were released. The remaining 28 were divided into three groups and transported to Peja, where they were detained in a private house serving as the Serbian army’s headquarters.
The Prosecution file states that these individuals were interrogated, tortured, and mistreated before being transferred to Peja Prison. They were subsequently sednt to Leskovac Prison in Serbia, where the torture continued. They were eventually released after the war ended with the assistance of the Red Cross.
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. Milosevic was accused of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity”.
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, the former president of Serbia, was acquitted of war crimes charges during the Kosovo conflict.
Nikola Sainovic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment 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.
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