Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Renew investigation into the attack on the "Nis Express" bus near Podujevo

The attack on the "Nis Express" bus in Livadice near Podujevo, twenty-four years ago, represents a mirror and a defeat, primarily of the international community in Kosovo, which proved unprepared and uninterested in ensuring safety for Serbs in Kosovo and justice for all victims.

"Today marks twenty-four years since one of the most monstrous crimes committed by Albanian terrorists in Kosovo and Metohija, when the attack on the 'Nis Express' bus in Livadice near Podujevo killed twelve and injured forty-three displaced Serbs who were, under KFOR escort, traveling to Gracanica to observe the Memorial Saturday. Those killed in the attack were Suncica Pejcic, Zivana Tokic, Slobodan Stojanovic, Mirjana Dragovic, Veljko Stakic, Nenad Stojanovic, Milinko Kragovic, Lazar Milkic, Dragan Vukotic, and Nebojsa, Snezana and Danilo Cokic, the latter being only two years old," the Office for Kosovo and Metohija recalled in a statement.

It is pointed out that nearly a quarter century later, neither the direct perpetrators nor their instigators have been held accountable, and the families of the victims are still waiting for justice for their loved ones.

"It is a devastating fact that this case was closed, and the only suspect, Florim Ejupi, who was initially sentenced to 40 years in prison, was acquitted by the Supreme Court of Kosovo in 2009 due to a lack of evidence. On this day, we have a duty to also remind that, just as international organizations and temporary self-government institutions in Pristina are unable to find and punish the instigators and perpetrators of this terrorist attack, so too is it unknown to this day who the murderers of Serbian children in Gorazdevac are, who killed fourteen harvesters in Staro Gracko, the Stolic family in Obilic, who are responsible for the nearly daily organized campaign of disenfranchisement, intimidation, and terror against Serbs," states the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

The statement by the Office questions whether it is possible that international missions in the province cannot or do not want to see that the story of the rule of law and justice in Kosovo is just an empty letter on paper and that Pristina's policy is based solely on crimes against the Serbian people, their property, and their sanctuaries.

"Therefore, this crime represents both a mirror and a defeat, primarily of the international community in Kosovo and Metohija, which proved unprepared and uninterested in ensuring safety for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and justice for all victims, especially since this crime occurred in the presence of international security forces," the statement adds.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija will continue to demand, primarily from the international community, the renewal of the investigation into this and all other cases of attacks on Serbs, to clarify all unresolved crimes, and to justly punish their direct perpetrators and instigators.

"As long as this is not done, Kosovo and Metohija will continue to be a refuge and a safe zone for villains and terrorists," declares the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.