Petkovic sent a letter to EULEX: International experts and one Serbian expert should be present at the autopsy of the bodies

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, sent a letter to the head of the EULEX Mission, Pietro Barbano, regarding the determination of the circumstances of the death of three individuals of Serbian nationality a few days ago in Banjska.

In the letter, it is requested that an independent team of international forensic experts be allowed to attend the autopsy of the bodies, which will take place in Pristina. This team should include at least one expert designated by the Serbian side.

„This very important request concerns the establishing of the circumstances that led to the death of three people of Serbian ethnicity, casualties of the tragic events that unfolded on September 24. 2023, in the village of Banjska in the north Of Kosovo and Metohija. Since we have been informed that the autopsies will be performed in the coming days and that they have not been carried out until the sending of this memo, we request that you ensure that the autopsies to be carried out in Pristina, are also attended by an independent team comprising international forensic experts including at least one expert delegated by the Serbian side,“ the letter said.

It is added that the fulfillment of this request is vital for a „credible and transparent determination of circumstances under which those persons of Serbian nationality lost their lives, in the light of a reasonable suspicion, they were brutally executed after they had surrendered. This particular fact is especially relevant in the case of murdered Igor Milenkovic“.

„Failing to arrange the fulfillment of this request, we ask you to ensure that an independent team of international forensic experts, also comprising at least one expert delegated by the Serbian side carries out separate autopsies. Therefore, and having in mind the scope of your competencies, the sensitivity of the actual circumstances under which occurred the deaths as well as perceived indications that certain persons were killed at close range after having been apprehended, and also that sniper weapons were used, we urge you to act swiftly upon our request and ensure transparency in the process of investigating the overall circumstances that resulted in the deaths,“ the letter sent to the head of EULEX concludes.