Lawyer Arsic: Djokovic innocent; targeted because he is the only Serb who lived in Vitomirica

Before the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina, a hearing was held in the case of Milorad Djokovic from Vitomirica, whom the Special Prosecution accuses of an alleged war crime in Ozdrim, near Peja, in 1999. The prosecution and defense presented their introductory statements, and the next hearings are scheduled for February 26 and 27, as well as March 1, Djokovic's lawyer Vasilije Arsic confirmed for Kosovo Online.

"The prosecutor proposed witnesses from his side who should testify, stating that the indictment is justified, that the witnesses proposed by the prosecution will prove that the accused Djokovic committed a war crime in Ozdrim on May 7, 1999. As the defense, we challenged the allegations of the indictment, emphasizing that it was unfounded, that the investigation was not thoroughly done, and that the indictment was politically motivated because it accused a man who was the only one living in Vitomirica of Serbian identity, and pressures were exerted on him from the moment he came to live in Vitomirica in 2004", lawyer Arsic said.

The defense, according to Arsic, proposed witnesses who would prove that Djokovic did not participate in the events covered by the indictment and that he is innocent.

"After that, the court gave the floor to the prosecutor, who was irritated because we challenged the indictment, stating that our words were political, not introductory, which showed the prosecution's nervousness", Arsic said.

The defense has seven days to respond to the prosecution's proposal for witnesses, claims Arsic.

"The next hearings are scheduled for February 26 and 27 and March 1 when the prosecution's witnesses will be heard, after which the court will decide on the proposal for our witnesses, on which the defense relies and bases its defense", Arsic said.

Milorad Djokovic was arrested on June 28 last year on suspicion of allegedly participating in a war crime in 1999.

Djokovic worked as a registrar in the village of Gorazhdec and never left the Peja municipality; he was the only Serb living in Vitomirica.