The Municipality of Mitrovica has added the name of Roma child Elizabeta Hasani to the memorial commemorating the victim of a 1999 massacre believed to have been perpetrated by Serbian forces.
The municipality announced on Monday that the name of the 5-year-old girl was added to those of six other victims of the massacre.
During a ceremony on the occasion, mayor Agim Bahtiri said Elizabeta’s name was missing only because of lack of information on her identity as victim.
MP Albert Kinolli representing the Roma community in Kosovo called for the sentencing of perpetrators.
“This proves that Kosovo society is open and democratic, and it does not discriminate even against victims. Victims must be treated fairly and equally, independently of race, color, [ethnic] community or political party,” he added.
On March 13, 1999, a grenade was thrown at the Green Market in Mitrovica, killing seven people and injuring dozens. The massacre is thought to have been carried out by Serbian forces.
In March 2020, the municipality erected a memorial to commemorate the massacre. The name of five-year-old Roma girl Elizabeta Hasani was missing, only those of six Albanians appeared on it.
On August 2, 2020, the Day of the Holocaust against the Roma by the Nazis, Kosovo activist Shkëlzen Gashi denounced this fact.
The municipality promised to correct the mistake as soon as possible.
