Tomorrow (Tuesday), the initial hearing against Cvetko Kostiq, who is accused of sexual violence during the war, will be held at the Basic Court. The rape case occurred in the Municipality of Vushtrri.

Kostiq is being charged in absentia, as it has not been possible to secure his presence during the judicial process.

The hearing will take place at 9:30 a.m. at the Special Department of the Basic Court, KosovaPress reports.

Cvetko Kostiq was a member of the Serbian police forces.

According to the indictment of the Special Prosecution, acting in co-perpetration with other uniformed and armed individuals, he committed the criminal offense of “War crimes against the civilian population.”

So far, 12 indictments have been filed for sexual violence during the war, seven of which are in absentia.

For the first time for this war crime, Zoran Vukotiq was sentenced to 13 years in prison at all three levels of the judiciary. In another case, Vukotiq was acquitted of sexual violence, while Zhivojin Nesiq “Zhika” was sentenced to 15 years in prison and is currently serving his sentence.

Last year, the first in absentia verdict was also handed down, in which Dragan Deniq and Ivica Rajkoviq were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Last year, two other proceedings for this war crime also began.