UNMIK/PR/871
Friday 22 November 2002

Kosovo Albanians indicted for war crimes

On 19 November 2002, an international prosecutor in Pristina indicted Latif Gashi, Naim Kadriu, Nazif Mehmeti and Rrustem Mustafa (alias Commander Remi), all Kosovo Albanians and all former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), on charges of war crimes in violation of Article 142 of the Criminal Code of Yugoslavia.

The indictment alleges that these crimes were committed against other Kosovo Albanian civilians in 1998 and 1999. The indictment contains 11 counts, including illegal arrest and detention, inhumane treatment, torture and murder.

Pursuant to the request of an international prosecutor, Latif Gashi, Naim Kadriu and Nazif Mehmeti were arrested on 28 January 2002. An international judge conducted the judicial investigation.

On 13 August 2002, the investigating judge expanded the investigation to include the fourth suspect, Rrustem Mustafa, the KLA Commander for the "Llap" Zone in 1998 and 1999. The judge concluded the investigation on 8 November 2002.

The defendants remain in detention pending trial.