12 December 2013

An international prosecutor from the Basic Prosecution Office today filed an indictment in the Basic Court Pristina against eleven members of the Kosovo Police, Special Operations Unit (previously known as 'ROSU').

The defendants are charged with Mistreatment during exercise of official duty or public authorization, in violation of article 198, paragraph 1, in conjunction with article 31 of the Criminal Code; Assault, in violation of Article 187, paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 in conjunction with article 31 of the Criminal Code and Threat, in violation of Article 185, paragraph 4 in connection with paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.

The charges relate to alleged violence committed by the eleven KP officers against ten Kosovo Serb detainees, now injured parties, on 8 January 2013. The ten Kosovo Serb injured parties were arrested by KP officers on 7 January 2013, Orthodox Christmas, detained overnight in the Pristina Detention Centre and released on 8 January 2013 following a hearing at the Minor Offences Court Pristina. The alleged violence occurred while being escorted by KP officers from the Special Operations Unit from the Detention Centre to the Minor Offences Court and at the Minor Offences Court on 8 January 2013.

The investigation was conducted in a joint team involving investigators from the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo and EULEX police, led by the international prosecutor from the Basic Prosecution Office.