The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo announced that Serbian judicial authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against Kosovo citizen Dukagjin Maxhuni, who has been placed in 30-day pre-trial detention over alleged war crimes dating back to 1999.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, through the Liaison Office of the Republic of Kosovo in Serbia, immediately notified the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia and sent a verbal note to the diplomatic missions of the QUINT countries accredited in Serbia, with the aim of securing the engagement of international partners in protecting the rights and safety of the citizen of the Republic of Kosovo.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo in Serbia, Mr. Jetish Jashari, is in continuous contact with the family of the detained individual and, through the Liaison Office, will submit an official request for permission to visit Mr. Maxhuni. The visit is expected to take place during the coming week,” the ministry said in its statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora said that, through its Liaison Office in Serbia, it will continue to closely monitor the case and undertake all necessary diplomatic actions to protect the rights of all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.
It is recalled that Dukagjin Maxhuni, who was arrested in Serbia, is from Bec in Gjakova and is 47 years old.
Kosovo lawyer Arianit Koci previously announced that Serbian authorities had detained Dukagjin Maxhuni at the border between Serbia and Croatia. After several hours of verification, his family was informed that he had been transferred to Belgrade and that proceedings against him were ongoing.
Serbia has repeatedly arrested Kosovo citizens over allegations of war crimes committed in Kosovo during 1998–99.
This is the second arrest in August carried out by Serbia over alleged war crimes in Kosovo. On August 2, Kosovo citizen Mentor Mustafa, 44, from Novobërda, was arrested at the Serbia-Hungary border. He was also placed in one-month pre-trial detention.
