Nezir Mehmetaj has spoken publicly about his experiences in detention after being arrested while transiting through Serbia, describing months of fear, isolation, and alleged threats to his life inside Serbian prisons.
In an interview with IndeksOnline, Mehmetaj said that January 2020 marked the beginning of a difficult period, when Serbian police stopped him while he was passing through Serbia on his way back to Kosovo. He was then detained on war crimes allegations, accusations he has consistently denied.
According to Mehmetaj, he did not know when—or if—he would return to Kosovo after being taken toward Belgrade following his arrest.
He described a tense and hostile environment inside prison. Mehmetaj claimed that when he was first placed in a cell, several inmates were told that “a terrorist” had been brought in, which immediately created a dangerous situation for him.
“For about three months I didn’t even dare go out for a walk,” Mehmetaj said, adding that other prisoners allegedly discussed how they could stay in the same room with someone accused of killing children.
He further stated that for nearly six months he barely slept, fearing possible attacks.
“For about six months I hardly slept at all—maybe one hour at most. They were making plans on how to eliminate me,” he said, describing the psychological pressure he faced during detention.
Mehmetaj’s case drew attention in Kosovo and among human rights observers, with supporters arguing that his arrest and detention were politically motivated, while calls were made for greater protection of detainees and transparency in judicial processes.
