Special Prosecution seeks detention for nine war-crime suspects in Zubin Potok

The Kosovo Special Prosecution has filed with the Basic Court in Pristina, Special Department, a motion for detention against nine persons suspected of the criminal offense of “War crimes against the civilian population,” as KosovaPress reports.

According to the suspicions presented in the Special Prosecution’s motion, the persons with the initials D.D., M.R., M.R., R.R., S.D., S.D., V.L., R.R. and D.D. are suspected of involvement in the murder and disappearance of 23 civilians in Zubin Potok. The detention motion was filed, according to the announcement, on the basis of the evidence and data collected during the investigative procedure up to this stage.

The Special Prosecution has announced it will continue its investigative actions and procedures within its legal competences, respecting the rights of all persons involved in the procedure and the confidentiality of information that cannot be made public at this stage.

The arrests were carried out yesterday in the early morning hours in Zubin Potok, as part of the operation codenamed “File 23” (“Dosja 23”), by the Directorate for the Investigation of War Crimes of the Kosovo Police, with the support of other specialized police units and by order of the Special Prosecution, according to the joint statement of the Special Prosecution and the Kosovo Police.

The operation is linked to the case known as “The Intellectuals Group” — 23 persons, mostly doctors, professors, lawyers and other professionals from the Mitrovica and Skenderaj area, missing since April 1999, whose mortal remains are believed to have been found in this year’s excavations in Kalludër and Jabuka. All persons involved are considered innocent until their possible responsibility is proven by a final verdict.