Serbia Wants Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla’s Extradition on War Crime Charges

The Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office told BIRN on Thursday that it suspects detained former Kosovo Liberation Army member Tomor Morina of involvement in war crimes against civilians in the Djakovica/Gjakova area of Kosovo from January to June 1999.

Morina was arrested in North Macedonia on Wednesday on a Serbian warrant.

"Tomor Morina is charged, together with ten members of the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army' military police's so-called 'Cipat' group, with carrying out killings of civilians and inflicting serious bodily injuries, as well as torture, inhumane treatment, unlawful confinement and theft of civilian property in the period from January 30 until the middle of June 1999 in the Djakovica municipality," the War Crimes Prosecutor's Office said.

The Serbian Justice Ministry told BIRN that it has been "officially notified about the arrest of Tomor Morina by the North Macedonia authorities" and that it will send a request for extradition.

The Macedonian authorities have made no statement about the case so far.

Kosovo's Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli criticised the arrest and said that he expects that North Macedonia will release Morina soon.

"Serbia's political arrest warrants against KLA freedom fighters do not make sense, nor do they have a legal basis," Pacolli wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

"We believe his release and return to his family will happen soon. Kosovo and North Macedonia are have a close friendship and partnership and we will resolve this matter as partners," he added.