The trial of the murder of Enver Hadri, a Kosovo activist killed 35 years ago, began this Thursday in Brussels, but Serbia refuses to extradite the accused.
The trial for the murder of Kosovo activist Enver Hadri, which occurred in 1990, has resumed in Brussels after the Belgian court had previously sentenced three Serbian nationals—Veselin Vukotić, Andrija Drashković, and Bozhidar Spasić—for their involvement in the killing. The three were sentenced in absentia in 2016 to life imprisonment, but Serbia has refused to extradite them to Belgium for further proceedings.
Vukotić and Drashković, who are accused of carrying out the murder under the orders of Spasić, have filed complaints against the court’s decision, while Spasić, a former UDB official, has not contested the ruling. The trial, which is set to continue until the end of January, will involve over 3,000 pages of evidence and testimony, including international expert witnesses who will shed light on the geopolitical context and operations of secret services during the 1990s.
Enver Hadri was shot and killed on February 25, 1990, while stopped at a red light in Brussels. The Belgian court has confirmed that the assassination was ordered by the Yugoslav secret service, with logistical support from Belgrade.
The ongoing trial marks an important step in the pursuit of justice for Enver Hadri, but Serbia’s refusal to cooperate in extraditing the defendants raises questions about accountability and international justice.
