Lawyers Absent, Initial Hearing for 53 Accused in Meja Massacre Postponed

The initial hearing against 53 people accused in the Meja massacre and other villages of Gjakova, where 370 civilians were killed in 1999, failed to be held due to the absence of defense lawyers.

The case judge, Violeta Nimanaj-Hajra, said under these conditions that the hearing would be postponed to September 25, 2026.

At the start of the hearing, Judge Violeta Nimanaj-Hajra noted the absence of three defense lawyers. Valon Hasani was not present, Uresa Restelica had not yet accepted the invitation, and Laur Prenaj was absent for health reasons.

The hearing was initially recessed for ten minutes to await the missing lawyers, but they did not appear.

After that, Judge Nimanaj-Hajra declared that the conditions to continue the hearing did not exist.

“In these circumstances we have no conditions to continue. We will coordinate for another date. I think this hearing should be held next week, on September 25, at 08:30,” the judge said.

None of the 53 accused was present in the courtroom, as was also the case at the June 16 hearing. Their trial is being held in absentia, with the accused represented by their lawyers.

The Basic Court in Prishtina had set September 15 for the initial hearing, following the Court of Appeals’ decision of May 25, 2026, which had remanded the Basic Court’s decision confirming the Special Prosecution’s indictment.

The Special Prosecution had filed the indictment in December 2023 against 53 people for the Meja massacre, while the indictment was amended on December 23, 2024. All the accused are currently at large.

At the June 16 hearing, prosecutor Ilir Morina had read the indictment, while Judge Violeta Nimanaj-Hajra had noted that efforts had been made to secure the accused and ruled that the trial would proceed in absentia. /KP/