ZUBIN POTOK, Kosovo — Families of 23 intellectuals who disappeared from Mitrovica during the Kosovo War visited a suspected mass grave in Kalludër, Zubin Potok, where recently discovered human remains are believed to potentially belong to their missing relatives.
 |
| Families of the missing "Group of Intellectuals" from Mitrovica visit the excavation site in Kalludër, Zubin Potok, nearly three decades after their disappearance, following the discovery of human remains. |
The 23 missing people are believed to have been members of the so-called “Group of Intellectuals” from Mitrovica. Investigators suspect they may have been buried at the location alongside a small stream.
Families Face the Site After 27 Years of Waiting
Accompanied by the head of the Kosovo Police War Crimes Directorate, representatives of the Government Commission on Missing Persons and government officials, the families were able to see the excavation site firsthand.
The visit was deeply emotional as relatives approached the location where, according to the investigation, Serbian forces committed crimes nearly 27 years ago.
For families who have spent almost three decades waiting for answers, the discovery has brought both renewed pain and hope.
“We are still processing the news because we have been waiting for such a very long time. The meeting still seems abstract, but at the same time we have relived the pain because we are still waiting for the next procedures,” said Flaka Fazliu, the daughter of missing man Fatmir Fazliu.
Sadete Ujkani has two brothers and three cousins among the missing. She said her elderly parents were only partially informed about the discovery.
“We did not tell them everything. We only told them that a mass grave had been found and that we would see who is being identified. They are 92 and 90 years old, and they still hope that one day they will return,” Ujkani said.
First Bone Samples Sent to The Hague
Forensic pathologist Valon Hyseni confirmed that the first bone samples have already been sent abroad for DNA analysis.
“So far, I can confirm that we have sent at least 10 bone remains to the DNA laboratory in The Hague,” Hyseni said.
The samples will undergo forensic and genetic analysis in an effort to determine whether they belong to any of the 23 missing individuals.
According to the information provided during the visit, the DNA identification process could take up to three months, meaning families may have to endure another period of uncertainty before receiving definitive answers.
Investigation Into the Location Began Years Ago
Florim Elshani, head of the War Crimes Directorate of the Kosovo Police, said the location had been under investigation since 2024.
He said efforts to identify and locate the site became particularly intensive from 2024 onward, eventually leading investigators to the area where the recent excavations were carried out.
Authorities had initially been uncertain about what they would find at the site. The discovery of bone remains has now triggered a detailed forensic process.
During the visit, the forensic pathologist explained to family members how the first remains were discovered and answered their questions about the excavation and identification procedures.
Flowers Placed at the Excavation Site
At the conclusion of the visit, relatives and officials placed flowers at the site where the excavations were conducted.
Kushtrim Gara, of the Government Commission on Missing Persons, said that a commemorative plaque will also be installed at the location.
For the families, the discovery represents a painful but potentially crucial step toward resolving one of the most enduring mysteries surrounding the missing from Mitrovica.
However, the identities of the recovered remains have not yet been officially confirmed. The DNA analyses in The Hague will be crucial in determining whether the remains belong to the 23 missing intellectuals and could finally provide their families with answers after nearly three decades of waiting.