Milosavljevic: Trial in the “Racak” case extremely difficult and distressing, indictment contains many inconsistencies

Attorney Milka Milosavljevic said after today's hearing in the “Racak” case that it is an extremely difficult trial and that the prosecution's indictment contains numerous inconsistencies. She announced that she would file a motion to have the indictment dismissed.

“The Racak case is an extremely difficult, appalling and distressing trial. Proceedings on this matter were conducted in The Hague, and it is a legally adjudicated case. I do not know how or why they have decided to revive it now. As for today's hearing, the judge merely noted the presence of those attending, 21 individuals have been indicted, and the special prosecutor read the indictment. What the prosecutor read from the indictment contains numerous inconsistencies. It is impossible for a seriously injured person to get up and then be taken somewhere else again by the police. How is that possible? That is a clear inconsistency. Out of respect for the court, I would not go into further details. We have 30 days to file objections, which the court will then consider,” Milosavljevic said.

She noted that there is a possibility the court could dismiss the indictment.

“I will file a motion on behalf of my client to have the indictment dismissed because there is no evidence to support what the prosecutor read,” the attorney said.

According to her, a large number of people are unable to enter Kosovo because of trials held in absentia.

“These proceedings will take time, and that depends on the objections that are filed. The court may even dismiss the indictment. There are two or three documentaries about Racak, about what happened there, how it happened, and how, when it comes to the civilians, everything was staged and fabricated. Simply put, all of these people are unable to come to Kosovo. It is not a small number of people. What about their families? Entire families are being affected,” she said.

The trial in absentia of 21 defendants accused of alleged war crimes in Racak began today before the Basic Court in Pristina. They are charged with the killing of 42 Albanian civilians on January 15, 1999.