Serbian armed forces and paramilitaries have faced accusations of harvesting organs from killed or captured Albanian civilians during the 1998–1999 conflict in Kosovo. According to various Kosovo-based reports and forensic observations, Serbian authorities removed organs from Albanian victims before transporting bodies to mass graves in Serbia proper.
Forensic expert Arsim Gërxhaliu has publicly stated that mass graves were opened by Serbs and that organs were removed from murdered Albanians. Referring to a report prepared for the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) by anthropologist Mark Skinner, Gërxhaliu highlighted suspicions surrounding 82 individuals whose organs have been extracted. These victims were reportedly transported alive to Serbia and later buried in sites such as Batajnica, Raška, and Petrovo Selo.
The ICMP report, as cited in regional media, noted unusual patterns in certain graves (e.g., BA.01, BA.05). Bodies showed signs inconsistent with typical execution methods, and some were found in coffins or with hospital-style tags. Among the suspected cases were men, women, children, and even a fetus. Critics argue this points to organized post-mortem exploitation rather than standard wartime killings.
Additional sources suggest Serbian medical capabilities — which included organ transplant infrastructure since the 1970s — may have been used in conjunction with these extractions. Some Albanian voices, including activists like Latif Mehmeti and Ahmet Grajqevci from associations of missing persons, have stated that organs were trafficked, potentially through routes involving Macedonia and Bulgaria, with possible end destinations including Russia. Reports mention the presence of foreign (including Russian) medical personnel in the region during the conflict.
Ironic Reversal in Serbian Irredentist Narratives
Serbian irredentist and ultra-nationalist circles have aggressively promoted the “Yellow House” narrative accusing Kosovo Albanians and the KLA of organ trafficking against Serbs, despite limited forensic corroboration or evidence in international probes. This occurs even as counter-allegations of Serbian forces engaging in similar acts against Albanian civilians receive less attention in Belgrade. Critics view this as a cynical attempt to deflect from documented Serbian atrocities during the war, including mass graves containing Albanian victims and widespread ethnic cleansing.
Thousands of Albanians remain missing from the conflict, with families still seeking answers. The selective focus by Serbian extremist-nationalists on unproven Albanian crimes, while downplaying or denying allegations against their own side, highlights the ongoing information war and lack of Serbian impartial accountability two decades later.
Sources
Latifi, Petrit. “The Serbian Harvest of Organs from Dead Albanian Civilians in 1998-1999.” Balkan Academia, April 7, 2026. https://balkanacademia.com/2026/04/07/the-serbian-harvest-of-organs-from-dead-albanian-civilians-in-1998-1999/.
Epoka e Re, Telegrafi, XL Press, Gazeta Blic, and Vizion Plus. Various articles citing ICMP anthropologist Mark Skinner and Kosovo forensic experts (as referenced in Balkan Academia compilation), 2020s.
International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). Forensic reports on Kosovo mass graves (Batajnica, Raška, Petrovo Selo), as cited in regional media.
Additional context drawn from Council of Europe discussions and missing persons commissions in Kosovo.
