Filipovic: 30-day detention for Shaqir Lutviu on allegations of war crimes in Kosovo in 1998

The Basic Court in Pristina has ordered a 30-day detention for Shaqir Lutviu from the village of Krstac in the municipality of Dragash, due to alleged war crimes in Kosovo during 1998, his lawyer Jovana Filipovic confirmed to Kosovo Online.

Lutviu was arrested at the Merdare crossing on October 14 when he attempted to enter Kosovo. According to Filipovic, the Special Prosecution accuses him of committing a war crime against the civilian population in July 1998 by mistreating certain individuals at a police station in Orahovac, and during this incident, one person died.

"Yesterday, the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina held a hearing to determine custody. However, the court did not make a decision on the measure of judicial detention yesterday but extended the measure of police custody for another 48 hours. The decision to detain him for 30 days was delivered to us today, and we will file a complaint," Filipovic said.

It is undisputed, she says, that Lutviu worked as a policeman during 1998; however, she specifies that he worked in Prizren, not Orahovac, as claimed by the Prosecution, and that she will prove this during the proceedings.

"This is just another arrest in a series after more than 20 years, even though Shaqir Lutviu lived in Kosovo, had a residence in Kosovo, and never had any problems or reports for any criminal offense," Filipovic concluded.