A court hearing was held today in the war crimes case against Nadica Cepkenović, who is accused of crimes committed during the Kosovo War.
During the hearing, former prisoner Zahrije Podrimçaku testified about the torture and severe experiences she endured while being held in Lipjan prison and later transferred to a prison in Belgrade.
She described the extreme psychological distress she faced in Belgrade, saying she had lost hope of ever leaving the prison alive.
“I was transferred to Belgrade prison. There, I considered myself dead and did not believe I would return to Kosovo alive. At one point, I was so exhausted from the lack of sleep and psychological torture, constantly wondering what would happen to me. I was taken out to use the bathroom and asked where the toilet was. When I went in, I saw there was a boiler and warm water. I was extremely tired. I already considered myself dead and did not believe I would return to Kosovo. I went in and washed my hair and my entire body. I thought, if I’m going to die anyway, at least let me clean myself. I was covered in sweat from the sleeplessness, exhaustion and psychological torture they inflicted on me, while I could hear the noises and doors being slammed,” Podrimçaku testified.
Speaking about her time in Lipjan prison, she said she had been held in solitary confinement for around three months in a windowless room kept in complete darkness.
“I was also held in solitary confinement in Lipjan prison. For three months, I was in a room without windows. It was completely dark. When they came to inspect the room, I couldn’t even see their eyes; I could not tell whether they were men or women. I was afraid that men might come to rape me. I was just trying to stay conscious and keep control of myself,” she said.
