The Basic Court of Prishtina has issued its first ever conviction for wartime rape against Serbian ex-policeman Zoran Vukotic.
Vukotic was condemned to ten years in prison for both rape and the ethnic expulsion of Albanian civilians from the town of Vushtrri in May 1999.
According to Radio Free Europe, the victim herself testified against her abuser.
The Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims described the verdict as a “turning point and a moment of hope” for the victim, but also for all other survivors “that one day there will be justice for them.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, wrote on Facebook that ” This is very good news for all victims of sexual violence of war, for citizens but also for the history and future of Kosovo.”
While the verdict has been hailed as historic, Fatmire Haliti of the Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims told the media that they are not satisfied with the verdict and will be appealing the first instance ruling.
“[S]uch a crime against the victim deserves more than ten years in prison,” she said.
Based on data gathered from Kosovo institutions, there are around 20,000 cases of wartime sexual violence committed by Serbian forces. To date, few survivors have come forward publicly.
