Serbian war crimes against Albanian civilians of Studime, Vushtrri in 1999

Petrit Latifi.

23 years ago Serbian forces killed 116 innocent Albanians of Studime (Vushtrri), while two days later buried the victims in a mass grave.

These are the latest data regarding the number of massacred in Studime, while below you will find a (incomplete) description of this macabre massacre of the Serbian criminal state.

Vushtrri, like other cities in Kosovo, was severely damaged during the last war, as this city was involved in the war and Serbian forces committed a large number of killings, massacres, internments, burns, destruction, etc.

CDHRF statistics (at least until 2013) provide the following data: 776 murders, 116 missing, about 70,000 evicted, about 9000 houses destroyed, about 2000 buildings destroyed, 15 schools destroyed, 15 health facilities destroyed, 144 destroyed 4 shopping malls, shops, 38 hotel shops destroyed, 9 libraries destroyed and 6 mosques destroyed. Among the most painful events that occurred in the municipality of Vushtrri during the last war are:

CDHRF statistics (at least until 2013) provide the following data:

776 murders,
116 missing
about 70,000 evicted

Destroyed:

about 9000 houses
about 2000 buildings
5 schools
15 health facilities
144 shops
4 shopping malls
38 hotel boutiques
9 libraries and
6 mosques.

Among the most painful events that happened in the municipality of Vushtrri during the last war are:

Serious injury of Hatixhe and Shefki Grabanica, March 25, 1999
Massacres in the village of Reznik, on April 1999
Murder of Naman and Zylfije Muli in Kunovik, April 24, 1999
Massacre of Studime, on May 2, 1999
Ill-treatment of Albanians in Smrekonicë Prison, on May 3 – May 24, 1999
Massacre of Vushtrri, on May 22 , 1999
Murder of eight Albanian girls in Studime e Poshtme, on May 23, 1999
Massacre of Selatin Gërxhaliu’s family, on May 31, 1999

Brief history of the Studime massacre

After Serbian forces took control of the town of Vushtrri and some of its villages, they ordered the Albanian population to leave their homes. Thus, from the end of March and the beginning of April 1999, the Albanian population of the city of Vushtrri started moving, five buses left for Albania, some passed through Kosovo, and another part was allowed to stay in the areas around the city until 2 May 1999.

However, many residents decided to go to the villages in the northeastern part of Vushtrri because the area was still under KLA control, but not long after Serbian forces launched an offensive in this direction.

Fighting broke out in Melenica between Serb forces and the KLA, but the KLA was forced to withdraw.

This withdrawal of the KLA was used by Serbian forces to burn Albanian villages, initially burned the villages of Melenicë, Shalë e Bajgorës, the village of Tërllabuq, Kurullovë, Skoçnë, etc., continuing with several other villages located in the northeastern part of Vushtrri and came to Studime e Epërme.[1]

In Studime, the column of civilians was joined by other Albanian civilians from different locations such as Ceceli, Sllakovc, Drenicë, Llap, etc., whose total number was about 30,000[2] – 40,000[3].

having available only one road, the line Studime e Epërme – Studime e Poshtme – Vushtrri.

The convoy of civilians was set in motion in the direction of Vushtrri, by order of three Serb police officers[4], thus having only one road available, the line Studime e Epërme – Studime e Poshtme – Vushtrri[5] .

The trip was accompanied by fear of the population from Serbian forces, even according to Bel Gёrxhaliu, people said that “Chetnik paramilitaries and Serbian soldiers will come soon, they will kill us all”[6], which turned out to be true because Serbian paramilitaries after the burning of the above-mentioned villages came to the village of Studime e Epërme in three groups in a row.

Regarding the appearance of the soldiers, Fehmi Gërxhaliu says: “I saw different faces of criminals with scarves, braids, masks and painted faces … I also heard the voice of the infamous criminal Vucina Janicijevic”, while other witnesses stated that with them collaborated an Albanian named Kadrush Gërguri.[7].

The arrival of Serbian paramilitary forces marked the end of many civilian lives moving in the convoy.

The paramilitaries started to put pressure on the Albanian population by directing weapons, shouting and cursing the refugees, destroying vehicles (horse carts, tractors, etc.) and then around 20: 00-21: 00/21: 30, the killings and massacres started 98 Albanian civilians (according to Human Rights Watch) of various age groups.[8]

It should be noted that not all of the convoy of civilians was stopped by Serbian paramilitary forces, as a part of the convoy that had been launched earlier and had advanced earlier, had thankfully escaped unharmed. Bislim Rashica testified about this, as he had escaped on foot from Cecelia to the city cooperative, and was located somewhere at the beginning of the column.[9]

The part that escaped the massacre was sent to the Vushtrri cooperative, whose hangars were overcrowded. This place was under strict control by Serbian paramilitaries, who guarded the Pristina-Mitrovica highway and the road that connected to the city center. On the other hand, in the cooperative the conditions were miserable because people spent the night without eating and drinking and without minimum living conditions.[10]

During their stay in the cooperative, Serbian forces took Ali Mërnica and sent him to the “Extra” factory, where he was executed for the contribution of Ali’s brothers and cousins in organizing lessons in their homes after the Serbian regime closed public schools for Albanians.[11]

The next day, on the morning of 3 May 1999, Serb forces separated a group of women, the elderly and several men and took them to a neighborhood on today’s “2 Maji” street where they stayed for several days, and another group of men aged 22 -55 years old were sent to Smrekonica prison,[12] where according to Fadil Beqiri there were about 3000 Albanians (among them himself), who were abused in various forms for 22 days.[13]

It is very important to mention that the killing of Albanian civilians in Studime was not done by chance, but based on an order, which is testified by various people, among them Gëzime Gërxhaliu (daughter of Bel Gërxhaliu), who had heard Serb paramilitaries talking on the radio that they would continue the killing order even after the killing of 50 people was achieved.[14]

On May 3, Serbs sent various vehicles to retrieve the bodies of the massacre and send them somewhere to disappear, but this did not happen because we were attacked by two KLA soldiers (Bashkim Pushkolli and Sheremet Shabani ), and the Serbs, believing that a large number of KLA soldiers were there, fled.[15]

After that, these two soldiers together with the help of civilians buried the dead bodies of the massacre, a burial which according to Idriz Popova who helped in the burial and was one of the main witnesses of this massacre, lasted three days, from 3 to May 5.[16]

View of the convoy before the massacre took place.

About the total number of killed in the Studime Massacre there are figures ranging from 90-100, e.g. according to the KLA commander, for Sudime e Poshtme and Studime e Epërme (his name is not mentioned), he had seen 92 bodies killed, while according to the investigators of the War Crimes Tribunal 98 people had been killed there.

However, in the memorial found today in the village of Studime e Epërme, those killed in this massacre were:

Fatmir Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Zenë Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Kadri Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Sejdi Gërxhaliu (Studime ePoshtme)
Fahri Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Shaban Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Nuhi Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Haki Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Xhevdet Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Avdyl Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Skënder Gërxhaliu (Studime ePoshtme)
Imer Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Hajrullah Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Nexhip Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Bajram Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Qazim Hyseni(Vushtrri)
Hysen Hyseni (Dumnicë e Poshtme)
Enver Prronaj (Studime e Poshtme)
ZymberPrronaj (Studime e Poshtme)
Musli Gërguri (Studime e Epërme)
Deli Rashica (Studime e Poshtme)
Ali Rashica (Studime e Poshtme)
Naip Rashica (Studime e Poshtme)
Hasan Rashica(Studime e Poshtme)
Behar Rashica (Studime e Poshtme)
Muhamet Rashica (Studime ePoshtme)
Eshfref Rashica (Studime e Poshtme)
Fatmir Rashica (Studime e Poshtme)
SherifSfarça (Studime e Poshtme)
Skënder Sfarça (Studime e Poshtme)
Ramadan Haziri (Studime ePoshtme)
Hazir Muli (Studime e Poshtme)
Asllan Muli (Studime e Poshtme)
Bislim Ferizi(Pasomë)
Mihrije Ferizi (Pasomë)
Ruzhdi Ferizi (Pasomë)
Ilaz Maksuti (Pasomë)
Mehdi Musliu (Vushtrri)
Ragip Musliu (Vushtrri)
Bahri Hyseni (Vushtrri)
Ali Hyseni (Vushtrri)
Rexhep Konjuhi (Gllavotin)
Afrim Konjuhi (Gllavotin)
Xhavit Musliu (Vushtrri)
Ismail Popova (Vushtrri)
Namon Gërguri (Studime e Epërme)
Enver Gërguri (Studime e Epërme)
Agim Gërxhaliu (Studime e Poshtme)
Adnan Bunjaku (Studime e Epërme)
Ramush Gërguri (Studime e Epërme)
Rrahmon Hyseni (Kaqanoll)
Veli Xhafa (Sfaraqak)
Kadrush Musa (Bajgorë)
Xhavit Mulaku (Ceceli)
Ekrem Mulaku (Ceceli)
Hysen Bunjaku (Pestovë)
MusliAbazi (Vushtrri)
Remzi Morina (Akrashticë)
Bajram Mulliqi (Sfaraqak i Epërm)
SabriMaxhuni (Maxhunaj)
Sahit Tiku (Samadrexhë)
Driton Maxhuni (Maxhunaj)
Rahmon Ademi(Begaj)
Hamdi Shala (Akrashticë)
Miran Xhafa (Bare)
Nazif Xhafa (Bare)
Nezir Beqiri (Kaqanoll)
Shaban Krasniqi (Sfaraqak i Poshtëm)
Feride Syla (Ferizaj)
Sali Muzaqi (Kurullovë)
Bejtë Kolla (Kollë)
Tafil Ibishi (Bajgorë)
Islam Musa (Ceceli)
Agim Hyseni (Druar)
Driton Xhafa (Bare)
Beqir Hyseni (Skromë)
Agim Sadiku (Vidishiq)
Ali Mërnica (Vesekovc)
Naser Zhegrova (Vushtrri)
Bahri Haxhaj (Sfaraqak)
Bajram Kurti (Bare)
HysniBunjaku (Pestovë)
Shehide Sfarqa (Studime e Poshtme)
Ramadan Aliu (Skromë)
Milazim Ferati (Bare)
Ramiz Baliu (Skromë)
Fetah Tahiri (Selac)
Besim Muzaqi (Kurullovë)
FehmiTërnava (Vushtrri)
Brahim Mehmeti (Gumnishtë)
Faik Vidishiqi (Vidishiq)
Murat Peci (Rahovë)
Azemine Vërsheci (Sllakofc)
Remzi Aliu (Begaj),
Gani Muli (Kunovik)
Rifat Ferati(Bare), Istref Ferati (Bare)
Qamil Fejzullahu (Bajgorë) and
Nazife Bajrami (Dumnicë e Poshtme).

Some of the people massacred in the Studime Massacre (newspaper “Rilindja”, November 2, 1999)

Serb killings according to eyewitnesses

We will now mention some of the killings committed by Serbian forces against the Albanian civilian population, based on the memories of people who experienced this massacre and lost their loved ones (Explanation: some of the following witnesses will only be seen with initials, this can occurred because they did not want to give their full name for security reasons or Human Rights Watch did not want to publish their full names).

S.A. (from the village of Begaj or Novosella e Begut), along with other family members were the first to be mistreated by Serbs. She says that although the white flag was placed on the tractor they were traveling in, Serbian forces again stopped them and got them off the tractor, then insulted and mistreated them, and even beat some of them, as happened to a woman who was beaten on the grounds that her child was crying. [17]
K.B. (from Vushtrri) shows how he was mistreated by Serb paramilitaries. Initially, he says, Serbian forces came to his brother and asked him where he had his KLA uniform and weapon, while the above-mentioned brother replied that he was not part of the KLA.

This response prompted Serbian paramilitaries to strike him with a gun and then go to K.B. who was ordered to stop the tractor, after which he was beaten several times on the head by breaking a tooth, and then they took him and dragged him a few meters, beating him again and breaking his rib. . After that he stayed on the ground for about two minutes and then got up. K.B. proves that after him the Serbian forces took two young girls (17-20 years old) removing them 20-30 meters from where they were and sent them to a place that was not seen. After 15-20 minutes, he says that he returned those girls, who had torn clothes.[18]
Bel Gërxhaliu as an eyewitness gives information about the murder of Xhevdet Gërxhaliu (nephew of Ahmet Gërxhaliu) and Haki Gërxhaliu (graduated economist who worked in the factory “Extra” In Vushtrri) in the eyes of his father Ahmeti.

Beli also tells about the murder of Kadri Gërxhaliu (graduated agricultural engineer) and Sejdi Gërxhaliu (dentist) in the eyes of their parents Hasan and Hatiqe Gërxhaliu, while fortunately their younger brother, Bajrami had escaped thanks to his mother (Hatiqe) who had hidden him.
Shaban Gërxhaliu was another victim who, together with his son Nuhi, was killed by Serbian paramilitary forces. For this crime, Beli gives the names of Serbian criminals who were: Aca Kompirovic (Bukosh), Vojko Peric (Gojbulë), Lubinko Miladinovic (Miraqë) and Vucina Janicevic (Bajskë), who was also the commander of the police station in Vushtrri.

He also tells about the murder of Nexhip Gërxhaliu, Avdyl Gërxhaliu, Hajrullah Gërxhaliu and talks about the case of Mehreme Bunjaku, who, among other things, was injured and asked for water, but because of the situation no one could help her.

Bel Gërxhaliu himself, who was traveling with his wife, children and two Albanians from Breznica, tells how Serb paramilitaries (coming from the village of Gojbulë) started shouting and shouting at Beli’s two comrades, asking them who they were, where they came from and if were they KLA and then kill them both.

Beli would have the same fate, but thank God he had escaped even after being mistreated and shot in the back. Belin was treated by Dr. Faik Bllata, a doctor who also took care of many other injured Albanians.
Idriz Popova testifies that the massacres took place in the presence of the relatives of the executed. He escaped after being thrown over the corpses pretending to be dead, until the Serbian forces left. Idrizi as I mentioned above together with Bashkim Pushkolli and Sheremet Shabani contributed to the burial of corpses.
Mr. Aliu (from Novosella) indicates that Serbian forces detained him along with some of his family members. He says that he did not see the Serbs well because it was dark, but says that they first asked for money and the ornaments they possessed, and then they took Remzi Ali (the witness’s uncle) and Ramadan Ali (the witness’s nephew), who sent them. about 30 meters away and executed.
Another eyewitness, Bahrije Gërxhaliu was among that convoy, she was traveling with her mother-in-law, five children and her husband who was driving the tractor. She said that while she was in the tractor, she heard gunshots and shouts from people, and then injured her husband, Imer Gërxhaliu, whom she did not notice at first because she was hiding in a trailer. Her daughter Vjollca (then 9 years old), who thought she had been killed, told her about her husband’s injury. She then says that the Serb forces approached her, asked for money, but this had not happened, so they initially kidnapped one of the girls to threaten her further, but she thought of some letters and gave them ostensibly as money, which they then returned to the girl. However, in the end, Imer Gërxhaliu died from serious injuries.

Zeqir Gërxhaliu also testifies about the murder of Imer Gërxhaliu, who also describes how the Serbian paramilitary forces massacred an old man with knives and finally cut him in the throat.

His wife, Habibe Gërxhaliu (a teacher by profession) testifies about the murder of Imer’s brother, Skënder (graduated economist).

It should also be mentioned that Ms. Bahrie also shows the Serbian forces, who had, as we mentioned above, come in three groups: the first group came without masks and in military uniforms, the second group in disguise and with gloves, and the third group of drunk and with a beard.
B.A. (from the Studime e Poshtme) tells how Serbian forces stopped his tractor, demanded money from him and then took his brother Ejup Gërxhaliu brings other evidence. He tells how they forced his brother Zena Gërxhaliu, his son, Fatmir and Shaban Krasniqi (Fatmir’s father) to get off the tractor, who killed them. Ejupi also mentions the name of one of the killers, namely Zoran Peric (who killed Zena).
Z.G. (from Studime e Epërme) tells of the murder of his father, Agim Gërguri, his brother, and the murder of Naman Gërguri. The witness in question also talks about giving 2200 German marks to Serbian paramilitaries, but they still asked for more, saying “You have two minutes to give me 1000 marks”.

The witness in question had no money and could not find them, while on the other hand, as he says, the Serbs counted “two minutes, one minute … 2 seconds, 1 second” and in those moments he lowered the paramilitary weapon. and jumped from the tractor fleeing towards the forest, where he then heard the Serbian forces saying “enough, enough” who then got into their car …
Rexhep Konjuhi and Afrim Konjuhi, for whom Zeqir Konjuhi (Rexhepi’s parent) testify, did not escape this massacre. According to Zeqiri, the above-mentioned persons were taken out of the tractor, mistreated and then killed, while Zeqiri, although shot in the abdomen, escaped. Zeqiri also tells about his nephews (sister’s sons), Deli and Ali Rashica, who were also killed.
Shaban Bunjaku (from the Studime e Epërme, now deceased) testifies about the murder of his son, Adnan, Ismet Statovci and Eshref Rashica. According to Shabani, they first captured Ismet by beating him first and then killed him, then captured Adnan who was also killed, while Shabani was beaten and knocked down, while the latter had killed Ashraf. Shabani also testified that he had overheard them talking to Serb forces over the phone, asking how many had been killed and that one of the police officers had said 75 people and had been ordered to kill them until the number reached 100. On the other hand, Qerim Beqiri tells that Adnan had gotten married the night before, and that his father, Sherif, had asked the Serb paramilitaries not to kill him because he was married, but they responded by saying, “Because you are married, we will marry her again ”.
M.G. (from the Studime e Epërme) shows how the Serbian forces after killing a person in front of him, they came towards him with a light (because it was dark), where they asked him for money, and he gave him 300 marks and then a Serbian policeman (bald) told him to go back where he hit him twice with a gun in his right hand, injuring him (this wound made this person not have his right hand at all today). After the Serbian forces left, he says he returned temporarily to his tractor, to then flee to the mountains with his mother (they stayed all night) because he heard that the Serbian forces were returning.
However, of all these people who testified about the Serbian atrocities, it is worth mentioning the testimonies of Dr. Shukri Gërxhaliu, who not only survived, but also made a great contribution to the treatment of the sick and wounded during the war.
Shukri testified in The Hague in 2002 against Slobodan Milosevic, in 2006 against six Yugoslav Federation war crimes indictees, and in 2009 against Vlastimir Djordjevic (former Yugoslav Police Commander), while in North Mitrovica I testified in the trial of Zoran Vukot and Studime Massacre (along with other witnesses) three times at EULEX and UNMIK.

So Dr. Gërxhaliu was in the middle of the convoy, he was traveling with his family and his wife’s family with a tractor. According to him, the siege of the convoy by Serbian forces became horseshoe-shaped. The convoy was led by Bajram Mulaku, Muharrem Shabani and Brahim Mulliqi (imam of the village of Sllakovc) holding a white flag symbolizing that they were civilians. Shukriu also says that the convoy was divided into two parts, one part was sent to the cooperative, while the other was initially raided by asking Albanians for large sums of money (Deutsche Mark), and then the executions began.

He tells about the murder of Haki Gërxhaliu, who was killed in front of his children, while Shukriu himself fled to the mountains afterwards.
H.A. (from the Studime e Epërme) shows how Serbian forces approached his tractor, disembarked his brother Haki, and his son Rrahman from the tractor, who were first stripped of 1,100 DM and then killed.
Ibrahim Gërxhaliu was another survivor, who tells the story of the massacre. He says that the convoys were formed from May 1, by people who came from the region of Shala and Llap. made the departure towards the Studime e Poshtme. He points out that the Serbian forces started the siege from 20:00 to 20:30, starting with the burning of the village (previously the Serbian forces had also burned the villages of Sllakovc and Ceceli). According to him, the Serbs initially gave some order for the convoy to stop and stay tonight, and from tomorrow it is free to move, but then it did not turn out that way. Ibrahim was approached by a Serbian policeman and asked for 1000 DM and then another 500 DM, then tells that he came a Pinzgauer with 9 people, who executed Sejdi Gërxhaliu (Ibrahim’s uncle’s son), Kadri (uncle’s son), Fahri (uncle’s son), Shaban (father) and Nuhi (brother) in a place called “Majdan” (entered the area of the village of Studime i Poshtme). Ibrahim, after the Serbian forces left the tractor he was traveling in, on the advice of his mother, fled towards the mountain.
Ibrahim Gërxhaliu is another survivor, who tells about the massacre. He says the convoys had been formed since May 1, by people who came from the Shala and Llap regions.

According to him, the arrival of the convoy from Cecelia to the Upper Studies was made at 11:00 on May 2, 1999, while from 17:00 the departure to the Studime e Poshtme was made.

He points out that the Serbian forces started the siege from 20:00 to 20:30, starting with the burning of the village (previously the Serbian forces had also burned the villages of Sllakovc and Ceceli). According to him, the Serbs initially ordered the convoy to stop and stay tonight, and from tomorrow it is free to move, but then it did not turn out that way.

Ibrahim was approached by a Serbian policeman and asked for 1000 DM and then another 500 DM, then he tells that a Pinzgauer came with 9 people, who executed Sejdi Gërxhaliu (Ibrahim’s uncle’s son), Kadriu (uncle’s son) , Fahri (uncle’s son), Shaban (father) and Nuhi (brother) in a place called “Majdan” (entered the area of the village of Studime e Poshtme).

Ibrahim, after the Serbian forces left the tractor he was traveling in, on the advice of his mother, fled towards the mountain.
Vildane Mulaku is another witness who talks about the murder of her husband, Ekrem. She says that the murder of her husband and husband’s cousin was committed by Zoran Vukotic, for whom she also testified, but in the end this criminal turned out to be innocent (and later he was arrested again by EULEX).
Osman Rashica, in addition to testifying about the murder of 9 members of the Rashica family (DeliRashica, Ali Rashica, Eshref Rashica were killed in the massacre, while others were killed in other days), he blames both UNMIK and EULEX, which according to him are not are serious about this issue, although according to him these bodies possess and know all the data about Serbian criminals, since he himself had been in Fushë Kosovë to testify to these bodies.
Bilall Musliu, while traveling in a convoy with his family on a tractor, said they had been stopped by Serb paramilitaries who had threatened him by demanding money or handing over his son Blerim, eventually forcing him to hand over the money. However, his family did not escape the murder after he killed his father Abdullah, brother Mehdi, uncle Ragip and cousin Bastri Hyseni in his eyes.
According to Sulejman Rashica (now deceased), his son, Eshrefi, was executed automatically with the presence of his children, parents and friend, together with Ismet Rexhepi (Sulejman’s nephew). The murder took place after receiving a variety of money and jewelry.

The massacre of eight Albanian girls and the massacre of Selatin Gërxhaliu’s family

In addition to the Studime Massacre, it is important to mention the execution of eight Albanian girls in Studime i Poshtme on 23 May 1999 and the massacre of Selatin Gërxhaliu’s family on 31 May 1999.

On May 23, eight girls aged 12 to 30, 6 from the Gërguri family and 2 from the Krasniqi family from the village of Zhilivodë, who had left Vushtrri for Studime e Poshtme to send food to the village of Studime e Epërme, were apprehended by Serbian forces and are executed in the place called “Hambarët e Gumnishtës”, which today bears their name “Girls’ Bridge”.

Shukri Gërxhaliu testifies about the murder of 11 members of the Gërxhaliu family together with Selatini himself, as well as Xhemajl Gërxhaliu (Shukriu’s uncle), who had gone to Selatini.

Selatini, Shabani and Xhemajli were killed outside the house and the other members inside Selatini’s house.

According to Sali Gërxhaliu, when he went to the victims he saw that Selati had been killed in the neck and his two hands had been cut by a strong blow, Shabani had been shot in the eye, Xhemajli in the chest and in the lower part. barku.

According to Sali, all three victims were shot more than once. Saliu says that later, together with his friend, Ismet and Xhemajli’s daughter, they entered the house and saw nine dead bodies that were relatives of Selatin.