Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora called on the international community to intervene after Serbia arrested a veteran of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) on allegations of crimes against civilians, officials said on Friday.
The ministry said it received information that Kosovo citizen Mitehat Llozhani was detained after crossing into Serbia at the Batrovci border point near Croatia. Kosovo’s liaison office formally requested confirmation of the arrest, details of the detention, and other relevant information from Serbia’s liaison office.
“The Liaison Office of the Republic of Kosovo in Serbia has also informed the European Union delegation in Serbia and sent verbal notes to the diplomatic missions of QUINT countries accredited in Serbia to ensure the engagement of international partners in protecting the rights and security of the Kosovo citizen,” the ministry said.
Kosovo authorities added that Jetish Jashari, head of the Kosovo Liaison Office in Serbia, is in contact with the family and will formally request permission to visit Llozhani.
Serbian authorities confirmed Llozhani’s arrest on the evening of Feb. 5 and said he was placed in 48-hour detention, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
Serbia claims Llozhani participated in training as a member of the KLA’s Dukagjin Operational Zone in 1998 and 1999, and subsequently took part in “terrorist attacks against members of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Yugoslav Army.” The Serbian statement also alleged that, under the command of Ramush Haradinaj, he participated in the abduction and killing of police officers.
However, the Kosovo Veterans’ Organization told RFE/RL that Llozhani had participated in some training exercises in Albania but there is no information suggesting he fought on the front lines in Kosovo. Gazmend Syla, vice president of the veterans’ group, said Llozhani’s KLA veteran card was found in his pocket during the Serbian authorities’ search.
Serbia has repeatedly arrested Kosovo citizens on alleged war crimes from 1998-1999, with several such detentions recorded in 2025 alone. During the 1990s, Serbia labeled the KLA a terrorist organization, while Kosovo regards the KLA as a force that defended civilians against Yugoslav armed forces.
Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs listed previous cases of Kosovo citizens arrested in Serbia:
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Arbnor Spahiu – arrested in June on suspicion of “serious murder”; released Nov. 21.
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Lulzim Halili – arrested in July, accused of “war crimes”; remains in custody.
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Sasha Gjorgjević – arrested in July, suspected of collaboration with Albania’s intelligence (SHISH) through Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI); remains in custody.
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Behar Preniqi – arrested in August as a “suspected KLA member”; remains in custody.
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Hazir Haziri – arrested in September on suspicion of “war crimes”; released January 2026.
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Avni Qenaj – arrested in November for “war crimes”; given one month of detention by the Belgrade court.
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Millan Vukashinović – allegedly abducted by Serbian gendarmes in northern Kosovo (Leposavić) on Nov. 1.
On Aug. 14, Serbian authorities said they detained two individuals with initials Xh.E. and B.E. (Xhemajl and Bashkim Emini) at the border with Hungary in Horgoš on suspicion of committing war crimes against civilians as KLA members; both were released five days later.
Kosovo’s ministry urged international actors to engage immediately to protect Llozhani’s rights and ensure his safety.