BELGRADE, April 18 (Hina) - The court in the southern Yugoslav city of Nis sentenced Ljuan and Bekim Mazreku, two brothers from Malisevo, to 20 years in prison each for the abduction and rape of Serb civilians in 1998 and their
killing in the Kosovo village of Klecka. Public reaction to the controversial trial was ambiguous, with part of the public claiming the Mazreku brothers had been framed to diminish the crimes Serb forces committed on ethnic Albanians in the southern Yugoslav province of Kosovo. The indictment also charged the two brothers with terrorism and membership in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Between July 17 and 22, 1998, during attacks on Orahovac, they allegedly abducted 43 civilians, whom they later tortured and killed in Klecka. They were also charged with the mass shooting together with 18 KLA members of some 100 Serb civilians. The Mazrekus denied all charges and said they understo
BELGRADE, April 18 (Hina) - The court in the southern Yugoslav city
of Nis sentenced Ljuan and Bekim Mazreku, two brothers from
Malisevo, to 20 years in prison each for the abduction and rape of
Serb civilians in 1998 and their killing in the Kosovo village of
Klecka.
Public reaction to the controversial trial was ambiguous, with part
of the public claiming the Mazreku brothers had been framed to
diminish the crimes Serb forces committed on ethnic Albanians in
the southern Yugoslav province of Kosovo.
The indictment also charged the two brothers with terrorism and
membership in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Between July 17 and
22, 1998, during attacks on Orahovac, they allegedly abducted 43
civilians, whom they later tortured and killed in Klecka. They were
also charged with the mass shooting together with 18 KLA members of
some 100 Serb civilians.
The Mazrekus denied all charges and said they understood the
verdict. Ljuan Mazreku added everything would be clear in The
Hague.
The defence attorney announced an appeal and said he was confident
"the new decision will be based on fact and not on conjecture."
Reading the verdict, Judge Milimir Lukic said no witnesses were
questioned "given that not one survived."
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