The Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo submitted to the court the first indictment for the massacre of the Jashari family during the war in Prekaz in March 1998.
Chief Prosecutor Blerim Isufaj said that the importance of this indictment also lies in the fact that it proves the continuous commitment to deal with war crimes and to demand criminal responsibility from Serbia.
Blerim Isufaj, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo, said that, “Sot the Special Prosecutor’s Office has taken an important step in fulfilling its legal mandate, submitting the charges in a case of special importance for the institutions of justice and for public opinion. The submission of charges was made in accordance with legal powers and responsibilities, showing the seriousness and commitment of the Special Prosecutor’s Office to justice. .The importance of this indictment is also special due to the fact that it is the first indictment related to the killing of civilians in the neighborhood of Jashar in Prekaz. Now it is up to the Court to evaluate the indictment and the evidence presented in it. In this case, extra care has been taken in order for the claims raised to be proven before the Court.“
Prosecutor Valdet Gashi said that according to the information available to the Prosecutor’s Office, there are 35 people identified in the case of the attack on the Jashari family, confirming that they are alive.
“The evidence provided has proven that 26 civilians were killed in this attack, among them children, women and the elderly… In addition, it has been proven that during this attack, the forces of the Serbian special units had taken the residents of the Jasharaj neighborhood hostage from their homes, in which case they had mistreated them in various ways”
On March 5, 6 and 7, 1998, Serbian forces killed more than 50 people during the attack in Prekaz on the family of the hero of Kosovo, Adem Jashari, one of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
