FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The prosecution and trial of war crimes in Kosovo during 2025 marked significant developments, including convictions, acquittals, the commencement of new trials, and the filing of indictments in absentia.
These proceedings were conducted under the jurisdiction of the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK) and the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina.
According to reporting by the Oath for Justice, despite reforms and advances within the judicial system, war crimes trials were not delayed and did not face procedural postponements.
Eight war crimes convictions in 2025
During 2025, the Basic Court in Pristina, Special Department issued eight guilty verdicts for war crimes, imposing sentences ranging from five to fifteen years of imprisonment.
The convicts include: Dragisha Milenkovici, sentenced to seven years in prison for torturing Albanian prisoners;
Časlav Jolić, sentenced to five years and six months in prison for war crimes committed in Istog;
Zoran Vukotić, sentenced to fifteen years in prison on four joint indictments;
Slaviša Filić, Ivica Rajković and Dragan Denić, each sentenced to fifteen years in prison after trials in absentia;
Miloš Plesković, sentenced to fifteen years in prison for the murder of Albanian civilians in Prizren;
Shaqir Lutvija and Sladan Trajkovic, each sentenced to ten years in prison for crimes against the civilian population.
-An acquittal from charges
On June 16, 2025, the Basic Court in Pristina acquitted Gavrilo Milosavljević, who had been charged with war crimes in connection with the Dubrava Prison massacre, citing a lack of evidence.
Trials in progress and recently initiated
Throughout 2025, several major court proceedings were initiated or continued, including cases against:
Ramadan Morina (Malishevo),
Dragutin Naskovic (Zhegër),
53 defendants charged in connection with the Meja massacre (trial in absentia), as well as other cases in Peja, Gjakova, Istog, Pristina and Malisheva.
In addition, retrials and new hearings were held in several cases, including those remanded for retrial by the Court of Appeal.
Indictment in absentia
During 2025, the Special Prosecution Office intensified the filing of indictments in absentia, citing the unavailability of suspects to Kosovo justice institutions.
According to SPRK:
Eleven war crimes indictments were filed as of December 1, 2025;
A total of 36 people were charged, 33 of whom will be tried in absentia;
Eight detention requests were filed against ten individuals.
The indictments include serious crimes such as massacres, mass murder, forcible displacement, torture and destruction of civilian property, including cases related to Meja, Recak, Llashtica and Pristina Prison.
Developments in 2025 demonstrate a continuing institutional effort to confront the past and bring to justice those responsible for war crimes in Kosovo.
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