Serbian police have arrested a 77-year-old man at the Merdare border crossing with Kosovo on suspicion of war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo, Serbian authorities reported on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Interior did not disclose the suspect’s nationality but identified him by the initials H.H. According to the Serbian authorities, the suspect is accused of killing a Serbian civilian in Podujevë in June 1999, allegedly in collaboration with members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK).
It remains unclear exactly when the arrest took place. Serbian authorities stated that the suspect has been detained for 48 hours, and an indictment is expected.
The Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs was contacted by Radio Evropa e Lirë to confirm whether it was aware of the arrest in Merdare.
This arrest comes about a month after two individuals were detained at the Horgosh border crossing between Serbia and Hungary, accused of committing war crimes against civilians alongside UÇK members. Serbian authorities have reportedly increased detentions of ethnic Albanians suspected of collaborating with or being members of the UÇK.
Previously, on 22 July 2025, Lulzim Halili was arrested under similar allegations, which were rejected by the UÇK Veterans’ Organization. Last month, Behar Preniqi was also detained at the Batrovci border between Croatia and Serbia; charges have not yet been publicly announced.
The Kosovo authorities have consistently condemned these arrests as arbitrary, demanding the release of those detained.
Although Kosovo and Serbia signed the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement in 2013 under the mediation of the European Union, cooperation on war crime cases has been minimal.
