Oliver Ivanovic, former leader of the Serbian Initiative (SDP) was convicted of war crimes at the Basic Court in Mitrovica on Thursday and sentenced to nine years in prison for ordering the murder of nine ethnic Albanians in Mitrovica on April 14, 1999. However, he was not found guilty on the charges of committing crimes in 2000.
Unofficial information that UN HQ in New York is preparing a plan that will grant UNMIK broader areas of intervention in Kosovo has caused a stir in Pristina. Kosovo authorities believe that the mission is unnecessary and represents the main obstacle to full independence.
The dailies report that according to Gazeta Blic portal, the UN mission in Kosovo will have higher competences from June this year, which was qualified by Pristina-based media as the biggest defeat of Kosovo in its attempts to gain more competencies as an independent state. As stated by Gazeta Blic portal, the plan of international community allegedly was adopted by several Committees, while the Budget Committee should adopt it in three to four months.
Publishing of the verdict announced for 21 January, after two years of ordeal will mark the end of troubles that my family and me have passed through, says leader of the Civic Initiative SDP, Olvier Ivanovic, in an interview to Novosti.
For seven years, judges of the EU mission concluded 600 court cases, but no one has been prosecuted for war crimes against Serbs.
Prosecutor Romul Mateus today will present his closing statement in a trial at Mitrovica Basic Court to the leader of the Civic Initiative SDP Oliver Ivanovic, and four other Serbs. Presentation of evidence in the case has been accomplished last week, whereas defense of the accused Serbs will present its closing arguments in coming days, following the presentation of prosecutor’s closing statement.
The EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) through a press release informed that following the exhumations that took place on August 25, 2015 in Krusha e Vogel/Mala Krusa in the Municipality of Prizren, and the subsequent analysis of DNA results received, EULEX DFM has managed to solve the fate of two missing persons. One victim of the March 26, 1999 Krusha e Vogel/Mala Krusa massacre was identified. In addition, as a result of many years of work with the families of the Pastasel/Pusto Selo victims in the Municipality of Rahovec/Orahovac, another person considered missing was identified.
The news site reports that Vetevendosje MP Albin Kurti, who was arrested by Kosovo Police on Saturday, has sent a second letter from the High-Security Prison. In his letter Kurti argues that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is the next and decisive stage of ruining the state of Kosovo. “The Association is a natural result of the Kosovo Government’s approach. What is the value of Kosovo’s independence if it will be followed by a model similar to that of Bosnia? This government must be stopped.
Several Albanian portals published a "proven information" received from foreign intelligence services in northern Kosovo that Lavdrim Muhaxheri (25), from Kacanik, known according to the pictures of beheading a Syrian boy and firing hand grenade on a prisoner, this year resided in Serbia "near the Kosovo border and have a passport on the name of Boban Depić.
Panel of judges of the Basic Court in Pristina announced yesterday a verdict in case Konjuhi and others, referring to ROSU members and events that took place on 7 and 8 January 2013, when nine Serbs were arrested and taken to police station in Gračanica/Graçanicë, and later transferred to detention center in Pristina.