Kosovo War Crimes Suspect To Become Mayor

The appeals court in Pristina said it would allow Lushtaku, who is on trial for war crimes over the torture and abuse of civilian prisoners at a Kosovo Liberation Army jail, to be released temporarily in order for him to take the oath as the newly re-elected mayor of Skenderaj/Srbica, the EU rule-of-law mission EULEX announced on Friday.But EULEX said that “Lushtaku’s attendance before the municipal assembly of Skenderaj/Srbica is limited to what is strictly necessary for him to take the oath”.“His attendance at other persons’ oath-taking or at other arrangements including either of an official or of a social nature is not allowed. Media and the public shall not be allowed to be present during his oath-taking. He shall be returned to the detention centre immediately after taking the oath,” the mission stressed.He is not allowed to have any contact with anyone outside the oath-taking ceremony, or to make any statements.Although Lushtaku has been in custody on remand since late May when he was arrested, he ran for another mandate as mayor of Skenderaj/Srbice from behind bars in local elections on November 3.Lushtaku, alongside the ambassador to Tirana, Sylejman Selimi, who is also Kosovo’s former security forces commander, are amongst 15 suspects from the so called ‘Drenica Group’ of ex-KLA fighters on trial for war crimes against civilians during the late 1990s conflict.They are accused of torturing and mistreating prisoners who were being held at a KLA detention centre in Likovc/Likovac in 1998.All pleaded not guilty when the trial opened this month.