The Bytyqi brothers

“Don’t worry, we’ll resolve [the Bytyqi murders], and I think that it’s our job, it’s our duty to do it…. [Resolution will] happen very soon or much sooner than anybody might expect.”
— Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic, June 4, 2015 at SAIS

Many of you were present at SAIS approximately one year ago when Prime Minister Vucic promised expeditious resolution on the Bytyqi case – the case of three American citizens and brothers that were kidnapped, executed and dumped into a mass grave by Serbian special forces at the end of the Kosovo war.

But in the year that has transpired, virtually nothing has happened.  Witnesses have not been given clear signals that they will be protected.  No charges have been filed. Suspected war criminals, however, are faring much better.  Goran Radosavljevic, a prime suspect in the case, remains a key advisor to Prime Minister Vucic and President Tomislav Nikolic and their Progressive Party.  Despite repeated requests, the Bytyqi family has not been given updates on any future plans to move the case along.This wasn’t the first promise that Prime Minister Vucic had broken to US officials (including Vice President Biden, Secretary Kerry, and National Security Advisor Rice), the American public, and the Bytyqi family.  He had previously promised to resolve the case by the end of the Summer 2014. After missing that first self-imposed deadline, he promised in November 2014 to resolve it by end of March 2015.

Although Serbia has pledged various systemic reforms as part of its EU accession process, there is little evidence that these efforts will be genuinely pursued.  Vucic seems poised to reappoint a Justice Minister who throws “welcome home” parties for convicted war criminals.  This is especially important since June 4 will also mark 156 days since Serbia has been without a head of the Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor.  The Justice Minister will take a leading role in nominating new candidates and has previously suggested that he would impose an “SNS-friendly” litmus test for such nominations. A lack of political support remains a primary impediment to resolving war crimes. These failures result in fewer and fewer war crimes being prosecuted each year.