The Special Prosecution of Kosovo and the representative of the victims have requested a guilty verdict in the retrial of Muhamet Alidemaj, who is charged with war crimes against the civilian population.
During closing arguments, Special Prosecutor Ilir Morina stated that the evidence clearly proves that Alidemaj should be found guilty of the charges brought against him.
“On March 28, 1999, 130 Albanian civilians were executed, while women and children were forcibly expelled toward Albania, and homes were systematically burned. The defendant voluntarily joined Serbian military forces and participated in actions involving killings, attempted murders, and mass expulsions,” Morina said.
According to the prosecution, Alidemaj was a local resident with detailed knowledge of the terrain, was armed and present at the scene, and actively participated in abuses, looting, and the supervision of gathered civilians. Prosecutor Morina emphasized that Alidemaj played an active role in the village of Izbicë during the massacre, facilitating the criminal plan due to his familiarity with the area.
Victims’ Representative Supports Guilty Verdict
The lawyer representing the victims, Veton Rudari, also called for a convicting judgment, fully supporting the prosecution’s arguments.
“Witnesses identified the defendant and pointed him out as a person seen in Izbicë guiding Serbian military forces. The accused has never expressed remorse for this grave crime,” Rudari stated, urging the court to deliver a guilty verdict.
Defense Requests Acquittal
In contrast, Alidemaj’s defense attorneys, Miloš Delević and Dejan Vasić, requested an acquittal, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Muhamet Alidemaj himself pleaded not guilty, supporting the final statements made by his legal defense team.
Background of the Case
According to the indictment, Alidemaj participated alongside Serbian police and military forces in the Izbicë massacre in March 1999, during which 130 Albanian civilians were killed and brutally massacred.
Alidemaj pleaded not guilty during the initial hearing on April 29, 2022, as well as during the retrial on October 23, 2025.
On July 12, 2024, the Basic Court of Prishtina found Alidemaj guilty and sentenced him to 15 years in prison for war crimes committed in Izbicë. However, the Court of Appeal overturned the verdict and ordered a retrial, citing insufficient reasoning regarding decisive facts and an incomplete evaluation of evidence.
