Within regular activities in Project Monitoring Conflict-Related Trials in Kosovo and Youth Access to Justice, Humanitarian Law Center in Kosovo (HLCK) publishes the report on the most significant trials monitored during the past year 2019, titled “War Crimes Trials – Still at the Beginning”.
The report includes analysis of trials monitored by the HLCK monitors during 2019. In addition, results achieved by judicial institutions in prosecuting war crimes were presented. Finally, recommendations were given to judicial institutions in order to overcome issues currently faced by Kosovo judiciary as successfully as possible, and achieve best possible results in the coming period.
This report includes 19 cases, in all stages of criminal procedure. Pretrial procedure was initiated against eight (8) persons who were arrested during the year due to reasonable doubt that they had committed war crime against civilian population. They were mainly arrested at border crossings, when entering the territory of Kosovo. On this occasion, they were ordered detention and investigations were also initiated against them. In relation to two (2) arrested persons, and after obtaining evidence, investigations were suspended and they were released from detention. In relation to four (4) suspects, late in the year, three (3) indictments were filed, while investigative procedure continued in relation to the remaining two (2)
Two (2) main trials initiated in previous years continued in relation to war crimes charges in the reporting period. The report includes published analysis of appeals procedures in relation to these charges, as well certain cases connected with war crimes cases, with political or ethnic background.
You may find more details on these and other observations that, according to the HLCK, marked Kosovo judiciary in 2019, in the online version of yearly report “War Crimes Trials – Still at the Beginning”.
Find here the report: “War Crimes Trials – Still at the Beginning”.
The Project “Monitoring Conflict Related Crime Trails in Kosovo and the Inclusion of the Youth in the Justice Sector” is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office through the British Embassy in Pristina and the European Union in Kosovo through the project “Transforming conflicting perceptions through increased civic and community engagement in Kosovo”.