Serb Ex-Policeman Pleads Not Guilty to Kosovo Crimes

At the Basic Court in Peja/Pec in Kosovo, during his first trial session, former Serbian policeman Milorad Zajic pleaded "not guilty" on Wednesday to all war crimes charges made against him.

Zajic is indicted for allegedly taking part in the killing of two people - one with disabilities - and for forcing ethnic Albanians out of a village in 1998 during the war in Kosovo.

The Kosovo Special Prosecution indictment says that during June and July 1998, the suspect took an active role in organised attacks by Serbian forces on the ethnic Albanian village of Dush, near Klina, around 60 kilometres west of Pristina.

The prosecution said the suspect took part in the attacks as "a member of Serbian police, army and paramilitary [units]," together with other unnamed Serbs.

He is also accused of putting his house at the disposal of Serbian forces.

"On 19 June, 1998, around noon, in Dush village, dressed in military uniform and civilian trousers … [M.Z.] unloaded weapons of different calibres," the prosecution said.

"On the evening of the same day, from the balcony of his house, the defendant fired with automatic weapons in the direction of the unprotected civilian population, which, fearing attacks, threats and uninterrupted attacks, was forced to flee the village," it added.

As a result of these attacks, two people who could not flee - one of whom was paralysed - were burned to death in a house, while two others were wounded, the prosecution said.

Zajic, who fled Kosovo after the war, was arrested in March 2018 while visiting his home at his native village.

Serbian officials condemned the arrest, calling his detention politically motivated.

The next court session has been scheduled for September 26.