Kosovo court orders detention for five Serbs over 1999 Racak operation

A court in Pristina has ordered a one-month detention for five men arrested on suspicion of participating in the January 1999 Operation Racak as members of the Serbian police force. The arrests, made in Strpce and Gnjilane, were confirmed by defense attorney Nebojsa Vlajic.

Working in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office, Kosovo police detained the five retired members of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP). They are accused of alleged war crimes committed in the village of Racak in 1999. The Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija issued a strong condemnation of the arrests, labeling them as systematic political and institutional violence orchestrated by the Pristina administration led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

The Serbian office highlighted that the suspects have resided in Kosovo for years without attempting to flee, suggesting they had no reason to hide. Meanwhile, Kosovo Special Prosecutor Ilir Morina indicated that the investigation into the Racak case has identified several additional individuals allegedly involved in the 1999 events. The court's decision to detain the men for a month will allow the investigation to proceed.

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The arrests are systematic political and institutional violence by the Pristina administration led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti.