The Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo has filed an indictment against the defendant R.M., on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of “War crime against the civilian population.”

According to the indictment, on March 31, 1999, in the village of Burim in the Municipality of Malisheva, R.M., acting in co-perpetration with other members of Serbian police and military forces, participated in the killing of 34 Albanian civilians.

R.M. is also accused of involvement in the destruction of property, the mass expulsion of the civilian population, and the looting of property belonging to around 1,000 citizens who were not involved in the war.

The defendant is being held in pretrial detention until a further court decision, and the case has been referred for trial to the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina.

The Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo states that it remains committed to the criminal prosecution of crimes committed during the war in Kosovo, with the aim of ensuring justice for the victims and establishing criminal accountability for the perpetrators, in accordance with international standards.