Following his arrest by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office on 24 September 2020, Salih Mustafa was transferred to the Detention Facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on 24 September 2020.
The Pre-Trial Judge confirmed the indictment against Salih Mustafa on 12 June 2020. Pursuant to Rule 88(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence Before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers the indictment, as confirmed, was not made public at that time.
The indictment, as confirmed, states that crimes of arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, and torture were committed between approximately 1 April 1999 and 19 April 1999 at a detention compound located in Zllash/Zlaš, Kosovo, against at least six persons. Moreover, it is stated that one detainee was murdered at that location on a date between on or about 19 April 1999 and around the end of April 1999.
The indictment, as confirmed, charges Salih Mustafa, under various forms of criminal responsibility, with: arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder as war crimes committed in the context of and associated with a non-international armed conflict in Kosovo.
For security reasons, the Pre-Trial Judge ordered the indictment to be made public with redactions. It can be accessed here.
Information about the date and time of the initial appearance of Salih Mustafa before the Pre-Trial Judge will be announced in due course. The initial appearance will be a public hearing and can be followed by video streaming via the website of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
