The Kosovo Institute for War Crimes is prepared to offer its extensive archive of evidence if requested by relevant institutions to support a potential genocide lawsuit against Serbia. However, Atdhe Hetemi, the director of the institute, emphasized that the institution does not have the mandate to initiate such a lawsuit itself.
In an interview with KosovaPress, Hetemi explained that while the institute cannot take legal action, it stands ready to provide critical documents and materials related to war crimes committed during the Kosovo conflict. The institute, established in late 2023, has already collected a vast array of evidence, including over 200 meters of archival materials and thousands of hours of video recordings documenting war crimes perpetrated by Serbian forces.
“We do not have the mandate to initiate legal action,” Hetemi stated. “However, if other institutions with the authority to take such action request our help, we are obliged to provide the evidence we hold to support their efforts.”
Hetemi stressed that the institute’s primary role is academic in nature, focusing on documenting the atrocities of the past. “For lasting peace in the region, it is vital to ensure that proper documentation exists. We are in the process of creating that, and once it is complete, steps for justice and reparations can be taken by other institutions,” he added.
In a recent statement, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced plans for his government to file a lawsuit against Serbia for genocide at the International Court of Justice. However, no tangible progress has been made in this area. Kurti mentioned in November that the preparations for such a lawsuit are complex and must be conducted discreetly due to the sensitive regional context.
While formal legal action is still in the works, the Kosovo Institute for War Crimes has already compiled substantial evidence, which could play a pivotal role in any future legal proceedings. Hetemi noted that materials created by the institute’s predecessor, which was part of the Ministry of Justice, are now stored in the new institute’s archives.
The institute currently operates with ten offices in Pristina and a 50-square-meter archive. Additionally, it has expanded its presence across Kosovo to further document and preserve evidence of the war crimes committed during the conflict.
In 2011, a similar war crimes research institute was established but was closed seven years later, continuing its work under the Ministry of Justice. The newly formed Kosovo Institute for War Crimes aims to strengthen these efforts and ensure a lasting record of the atrocities committed during the war.
