Period: 21st century

Region: Kosovo and Metohia

The Albanian crime in Goraždevac - Kosovo 2003

The crime in Goraždevac refers to the murder of two Serbian boys: Ivan Jovović and Pantelija Dakić and four other children having received serious wounds: Dragana Srbljak, Djordje Ugrenovic, Bogdan Bukmirovic and Marko Bogicevic. This crime was committed by the members of former Albanian terrorist group, so-called the Occupation Army of Kosovo (OAK).

Their aim was to threaten Serbian people and conduct ethnic cleansing of this part of Kosovo and Metohija.  

This crime happened on August 13, 2003 at the coast of river Bistrica near Serbian village Goraždevac in the vicinity of town Peć in the western part of Metohija.

This terrific crime remained unsolved although high prize was offered to anyone who helped to find perpetrators. EULEX representatives gave up from investigation during which 75 witnesses were examined, but who gave unspecific and poor statements, so this case was closed.

Authorities of the Republic of Serbia failed to process this crime, giving disputable justifications that they didn’t have authorisation for it.

BACKGROUND

On On 15 January 1999, in the Kosovo village of Račak, Serbian police clashed with Albanian terrorists. The Western Media falsely reported that Serbian policemen killed Albanian civilians. They were instructed by William Walker, the head of the Kosovo Verification Mission.

Holbrooke in Belgrade with false offer

This case served as justification for the aggression and bombing of Serbia and Montenegro in 1999, which the Government of Serbia attempted to avoid in negotiations with Kosovo Albanians in Rambouillet. As this attempt failed, American general Wesley Clark ordered the bombing, which turned into genocidal action known as “Merciful Angel.”

Situation in Goraždevac

The village of Goraždevac was first traced back to the time of the king Stefan Prvovenčani who mentioned this village in his charter issued around 1220 in Žiča monastery. Census, conducted in 1485, at the time of the Ottoman rule, indicated that the village had 28 Serbian houses with the home of a Serbian priest among them. The village was often attacked by Albanians, but with no success. The village possesses a cabin from the 16th century.

Goraždevac is the largest Serbian village in Metohija which has around 1000 residents of Serbian nationality. The city hall of Peć, and its district is located there after invasion of Kosovo and Metohija in June 1999. Until 1999 a textile plant operated in the village, but from 2000 to 2008 it served as NATO base at Kosovo.

THE CRIME

On August 13 around 1:20pm, six children who lived in the village of Goraždevac came to the coast of river Bistrica to swim and play games. They didn’t suspect that it could be fatal. Goraždevac is the largest Serbian village in Metohija where after 2000 around 2,000 residents returned to their houses after the war, which was negatively received among their neighbours from Albanian villages.

Crimes scene

In nearby bush the group of well armed terrorists from former OAK hid, having fired 90 bullets in direction where six children were playing: Pantelija Dakić (12) and Ivan Jovović died immediately, while Dragana Srbljak (13), Đorđe Ugrenović (20), Bogdan Bukmirović (14) and Marko Bogićević (12) were seriously wounded. Deadly bullets were fired from the direction of Albanian village Zahac.

Bogdan Bukmirić was wounded with 7 bullets and his spleen was damaged. His neighbours took him to the ambulance in Goraždevac where bleeding was stopped, but that was not enough. He needed better treatment. Two neighbours took him to the hospital in Peć. When they came to the town, near the market, the car suddenly stopped which was noticed by passing-by Albanians, who attacked them and destroyed the car.

Two patrols of KFOR accidently came and took them to the hospital. The patients of Albanian nationality rejoiced for their misfortune and made derogatory comments. Thanks to the engagement of doctor Milena Cvetković, Bogdan was sent to Belgrade via Kosovska Mitrovica, where he had 4 serious interventions at the Military Medical Academy.

On August 19, he woke up from coma. Today he lives in Belgrade.

LIST OF VICTIMS

1.     Ivan Jovović, son of Milos and Spasenija, born in Goraždevac on March 10, 1984. He immediately died.
2.     Pantelija Dakić, son of Milisav and Gordana, born in Peć on October 9, 1990.  He immediately died.
3.     Bogdan Bukmirić, son of Milan and Lola, born in Peć on March 22, 1988. Wounded.
4.     Marko Bogićević, son of Dragan and Ljubinka, born in Peć on June 12, 1991. Wounded.
5.     Dragana Srbljak, daughter of Rajko and Mirjana, born in Peć on June 19, 1989. Wounded.
6.     Đorđe Ugrenović, son of Dimitrije, born in Peć on January 1, 1983. Wounded.

CONSEQUENCES

After this cruel crime, Serbian residents began to leave Goraždevac. On August 17, 2003 the fire on Serbian children repeated, but without consequences. Today only 700 people remained.

After two hours the UNMIK police closed all ways to the village and initiated investigation. Investigation lasted for several years, but without success. UNMIK representatives gave serious statements that killers of Serbian children would be found and punished (commissioner of UNMIK, STEFAN FILER). The Security Council of the UN held an emergency session due to this case.

Monument of Serbian victims in Gorazdevac

The prize of 1,000,000 dollars was offered to those who help to find the perpetrators. This also didn’t help. More than 75 witnesses were examined but nobody gave significant information. Nobody dared to break the rule of silence. Witnesses clearly feared for their personal safety and their statements were unclear and poor. The investigation was canceled in 2011. Families and friends suffered.

EULEX inherited this case from UNMIK but investigation were conducted carelessly. EULEX has more than 1000 unsolved cases in which Serbs were victims and Albanians were perpetrators.

Bogdan Bukmirović still fights for justice. From July 2007, he regularly refers to European courts with aim to bring killers to justice.