Kosovo Court Convicts Two for War Crimes in 1999 Conflict

A court in Kosovo has sentenced two former members of Serbian armed forces, Zoran Kostic and Dragan Milovic, to 15 and seven years in prison respectively after finding them guilty of war crimes committed in April 1999. The ruling marks a significant step toward judicial accountability (llogaridhënie) for actions during the conflict.

The Basic Court in Pristina determined that both men were responsible for crimes against Albanian civilians in the northern municipality of Vushtrri. Judge Lutfi Shala stated that the time already spent in detention would be deducted from their sentences. The two suspects had been arrested in September 2023, following years of investigation and legal proceedings (procedura).

Defense lawyer Predrag Miljkovic criticized the verdict, expressing disappointment and announcing plans to appeal. He argued that the court failed to properly justify its decision and maintained that the evidence presented did not support the charges, raising questions about the legal justification (arsyetim) behind the ruling.

According to Kosovo’s Special Prosecution, Kostic participated directly in an armed attack on April 6, 1999, alongside members of Serbian police, army, and paramilitary units. Dressed in a police uniform and armed, he allegedly took part in actions targeting Albanian civilians, demonstrating active involvement (përfshirje) in the operation.

The indictment further states that Kostic was among those who looted and burned homes belonging to Albanian residents and killed unarmed civilians in the village of Reznik. These actions were described as deliberate acts of violence (dhunë) against non-combatants.

Prosecutors also alleged that Milovic participated in the forced deportation of approximately 20,000 residents from the Vushtrri area. In addition, he and other uniformed personnel were accused of mistreating, beating, and torturing civilians, constituting serious human rights violations (shkelje).

The case underscores ongoing efforts to address crimes committed during the Kosovo conflict and reflects the broader pursuit of justice for victims, reinforcing the principle of legal responsibility (përgjegjësi) for wartime actions.

Dragan Milovic (left) and Zoran Kostic (right) at Pristina court on March 18, 2026.