Lulzim Halili, a 59-year-old former fighter of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) from Peja, was arrested today in Svilajnac, Serbia. Serbian media outlet “Novosti” reported that Halili has been detained for 48 hours by the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of “crimes against humanity and war crimes” committed during the war in Kosovo.
“He was arrested due to suspicions that he committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in the territory of Kosovo,” Serbian media reported.
Kurti’s Warning to Kosovo Citizens
This arrest comes just a day after acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti urged Kosovo citizens, particularly those living abroad, to avoid traveling through Serbia due to security risks.
The KLA was a political-military force that fought for the liberation of Kosovo from Serbian rule during the 1990-1999 period. During the 1998/99 Kosovo war, over 13,000 civilians were killed, and thousands more disappeared. Approximately 1,600 people, mostly Albanians, remain unaccounted for. Over the years, justice authorities in Kosovo have accused or convicted several individuals for war crimes. During his press conference, Kurti also reiterated that Serbia has yet to apologize for the crimes committed in Kosovo.
