Today the hearing is held against 21 accused for the deportation of over 862 thousand Albanians
tidings
Express Newspaper
28/09/2026 6:57
In the Basic Court in Pristina, the trial in absentia is expected to be held against 21 accused, whom the Special Prosecutor’s Office charges with the criminal offense of “war crimes against the civilian population”, related to the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Albanians from Kosovo during the 1999 war.
According to the indictment, the defendants, during the period January-June 1999, exercised authority and effective control over the forces acting under their responsibility during the armed conflict in Kosovo.
The prosecution claims that the accused, through operational reports, internal communications and field presence, were aware of the actions carried out by the forces under their command or control.
The indictment mentions the destruction of property, the burning of houses and civil infrastructure facilities, the arbitrary persecution and detention of persons on ethnic grounds, as well as armed attacks on villages and towns inhabited by Albanians.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, these actions have resulted in the organization of forced convoys of Albanian civilians, with the aim of deporting them from Kosovo to the borders with Albania and Macedonia at that time.
The indictment refers to a figure of 862,979 Albanian civilians deported during this period.
The prosecution also claims that the defendants did not take the necessary and reasonable measures, within their powers and responsibilities, to prevent these actions, to deter the perpetrators or to report the illegal acts to the relevant authorities.
The trial will take place in the absence of the accused, while their criminal liability will be determined by the court on the basis of evidence and judicial procedures.
