Kosovo
Two arrested in Istog for war crimes, suspected in Padalishta massacre that killed 19 members of Imeraj family
The Special Prosecution announces arrests in Osojan and Cërkolez; the Serb List speaks of three Serbs arrested “without convincing evidence.”
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 29, 2026, 12:35 · Updated 18:43 · 1 min read
In brief
- The suspects, with the initials Z.B. and G.B., were arrested in the villages of Osojan and Cërkolez in Istog.
- They are suspected in the March 26, 1999, massacre in Padalishta, in which 19 members of the Imeraj family, aged 2 to 76, were killed.
- The Serb List claims three Serbs were arrested and calls on international representatives to get involved.
Two people were arrested on Thursday in the municipality of Istog on suspicion of war crimes, the Special Prosecution of Kosovo announced, according to Radio Free Europe. The suspects, identified only by the initials Z.B. and G.B., were located on Oct. 29, the first in the village of Osojan and the second in Cërkolez.
The Padalishta massacre
The arrests relate to the Padalishta massacre of March 26, 1999, in the municipality of Istog. That day 19 members of the Imeraj family were killed; the youngest and oldest victims were 2 and 76 years old. The prosecution said investigations into the case have been going on for a long time, without giving further details on the role of each suspect or the security measure it will seek against them.
The Serb List reacts
The Serb List, the main party of Kosovo's Serbs, said three Serbs were arrested in Istog on Thursday morning. The prosecution referred to its official statement on the number of people arrested. The party said the arrest “has disturbed the entire Serb people” and accused Kosovo's authorities of acting “without convincing evidence of guilt” against the suspects, asking international representatives to get involved.
War crimes investigations in Kosovo have passed through several hands. From 2000 to 2008 they were handled by UNMIK, then by EULEX, which in 2018 handed its files over to local prosecutors and courts.
The case comes a week after Millorad Gjokoviq was sentenced to 10 years in prison for war crimes in Ozdrim near Peja.
