For procedural reasons, the initial hearing against Cvetko Kostiq, who is accused of sexual violence during the war, failed to take place.

KosovaPress has learned that this occurred because an international arrest warrant has not been issued for the accused.

The decision was made in a closed-door courtroom at the Special Department of the Basic Court.

The next hearing will be held after confirmation from the Ministry of Justice that it has published the international arrest warrant for the defendant.

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

The rape case occurred in the municipality of Vushtrri, while Kostiq was at the time 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, a conviction for this war crime was handed down to Zoran Vukotiq, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison across three judicial instances; 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 conviction in absentia was also issued, with Dragan Deniq and Ivica Rajkoviq each sentenced to 15 years in prison.

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