The Court of Appeals of Kosovo has overturned the Basic Court’s verdict against Shaqir Lutvija, ordering a retrial in a case involving alleged war crimes against Albanian civilians committed during the 1998–1999 Kosovo War.
Lutvija, a former police inspector in Prizren, had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2025 after being convicted of participating in the murder, arrest, torture, beatings, and inhumane treatment of Albanian civilians.
The Court of Appeals ruled that the original verdict contained serious procedural violations and an incomplete assessment of the evidence. It found that the Basic Court failed to clearly explain Lutvija’s alleged actions, did not adequately justify its conclusions, and failed to properly assess witness testimony and identification procedures.
The case has now been returned to the Basic Court for a new trial, with instructions to fully examine the evidence, address the defense’s arguments, and provide a well-reasoned judgment.
Despite the retrial order, the Court of Appeals decided that Lutvija will remain in pre-trial detention until the Basic Court issues a new decision.
According to the Special Prosecution, Lutvija is accused of participating, together with other Serbian police officers, in the torture of Albanian civilians at the Prizren Police Station during the war. Prosecutors allege that detainees were beaten, subjected to electric shocks, and otherwise abused, resulting in the death of one detainee and serious injuries to several others.
