UN urges better protection programme after Kosovo war crimes witness found dead
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 30 September 2011 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, UN urges better protection programme after Kosovo war crimes witness found dead, 30 September 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e8adf9d2.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Agim Zogaj was a key witness in the case against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Commander Fatmir Limaj and nine others, who were last month charged with various counts of war crimes allegedly committed in 1999 at a detention centre in the village of Kleçkë/Kleèka.
Mr. Zogaj was found dead in a park in Duisburg in western Germany on Wednesday.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that while the circumstances of his death remain to be confirmed, German police have reportedly said Mr. Zogaj hanged himself.
"While the exact reasons behind his apparent suicide are difficult to ascertain, this case adds to our long-standing concerns about witness protection in Kosovo," OHCHR spokesperson Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva.
"We call for an effective and independent witness and victim protection system inside Kosovo to be put in place," he added.
"Only an effective and well-resourced witness and victim protection system in Kosovo will help render justice to the victims and end impunity regarding past violations."
