Zoran Vukotiq has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for war crimes in Kosovo. The Basic Court of Prishtina has issued a guilty verdict against Zoran Vukotiq, who was accused of war crimes against the civilian population specifically for the murder of B.M. and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. The verdict was announced on Tuesday by Judge Rrahman Beqiri, reports “Betimi për Drejtësi.” Vukotiq was charged with four indictments for war crimes in Kosovo, but regarding the other charges, Judge Beqiri stated that the court did not find sufficient evidence to convict him, and thus he was acquitted of those charges. The injured parties were advised to pursue their civil claims through the appropriate legal procedures. The accused was not present at the verdict announcement. The Special Prosecution had filed four indictments for war crimes against the civilian population during 1998–1999 against Vukotiq. On August 22, 2024, upon proposal by his defense attorney Nebojsha Vllajiq, the cases were joined.
In the first indictment, filed on April 20, 2017, Zoran Vukotiq was accused of participating between May 2 and 3, 1999, as a reserve police officer from the Vushtrri police station, in collaboration with other Serbian forces, in attacks against Albanian civilians. According to this indictment, the civilian population was deliberately subjected to brutal and unlawful killings, inhuman treatment, endless suffering, expulsions, and terror measures. Among these civilians who were killed, wounded, or treated inhumanely for which Vukotiq was held responsible, were Ekrem Mullaku, Xhavit Mullaku, Fatmir (Ahmet) Gërxhaliu, Eshref Rashica, Adnan Bunjaku, Rrahmon Ademi, an unidentified 14-year-old boy, Haki Ademi, Shaip Gërxhaliu, Musa Gërxhaliu, Bajram Gërxhaliu, Bahrije Gërxhaliu, and Avdi Gërxhaliu. On May 25, 2018, the Basic Court in Mitrovica found Vukotiq guilty for one count and sentenced him to 6 years and 6 months in prison for war crimes against civilians as regulated by the Geneva Conventions. In 2019, the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial for one count that had initially acquitted him, while upholding the 6.5-year sentence for another count.
In the second indictment, filed on May 16, 2017, Vukotiq was accused of looting Albanian civilians’ homes and yards in Vushtrri on May 5, 1999, together with Guroljub Paunoviq, acting as a reserve officer in Serbian police. He was accused of intentionally beating and then killing four Albanian civilians identified as Enver Rrustolli, Hamdi Fazliu, Avdulla Fazliu, and Fahredin Fazliu. He was also accused of inhumanely violating the bodily integrity, health, and mental well-being of victims and witnesses by torturing them. Victims included Sanije Fazliu, Fikrije Shaqiri, Vehbi Xhema, Zejnepe Xhema, Nexhmi Xhema, Besart Xhema, Zeliha Xhema, Behar Pllana, Luljeta Rashica, Gani Maxhera, Halim Maxhera, Gazmend Shabani, Ahbet Sahiti, Skender Shabani, Bejt Osmani, Shukrije Osmani, and Faik Musa. On May 16, 2018, due to lack of evidence, the Basic Court in Mitrovica acquitted Vukotiq of this indictment. The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial on January 9, 2019, following the Special Prosecution’s appeal.
In the third indictment, filed on June 23, 2023, Vukotiq was charged with, during the armed conflict in Kosovo on April 18, 1999, at about 3:00 p.m., on “Rruga e Sitnicës” (now “Enver Musa” street) near the Vushtrri cemetery, acting as a reserve Serbian police officer in uniform and armed, jointly with unidentified persons, killing a 13-year-old Albanian boy named B.M. The indictment states that the victim and his cousin Faton Muli had taken a neighbor’s bicycle and were riding near the cemetery when they heard gunshots and changed course towards Enver Musa street. There, they encountered three armed police officers. When the children tried to flee, Vukotiq fired from approximately 30 meters, hitting B.M. in the chest, killing him instantly, while Faton Muli escaped by hiding nearby. He was charged with war crimes against the civilian population under the former Yugoslav Penal Code and Kosovo Penal Code. The prosecution withdrew one count, but the trial continues on the murder charge.
In the fourth indictment, filed on October 4, 2023, Vukotiq is charged with war crimes against the civilian population, currently classified as crimes against humanity, including allegations of sexual violence during the war. The trial began in November 2023 but was closed to the public due to the sensitive nature of the charges. Because of the workload, these cases were transferred from the Basic Court in Mitrovica to the Special Department of the Basic Court in Prishtina.
Additionally, Vukotiq was accused of participating as a member of the Serbian Ministry of Interior reserve police in illegal acts during the war in Kosovo on May 22, 1999, in the territory of Vushtrri municipality, including expulsion of Albanian civilians, physical and psychological violence against them, and other inhumane acts. According to the prosecution, Vukotiq committed sexual violence as part of a widespread and systematic attack against Albanian women. For this case, he was initially sentenced on November 11, 2022, to 10 years in prison by the Basic Court in Prishtina. The Court of Appeal increased this sentence to 13 years on February 15, 2023, stating that the heavier sentence was proportionate to the severity of the crimes committed by Vukotiq. The Supreme Court later upheld this 13-year sentence.
