Former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Blerim Ramadani - arrested last month by the Macedonian police - has escaped from house arrest from his relatives' home in North Macedonia.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia told the MIA news agency on Thursday that it is taking measures to find Ramadan's location.
Blerim Ramadani, based on the international arrest warrant issued to Interpol by Serbia, was arrested on July 17 at the Jazhinca border crossing. The content of the arrest warrant is based on Serbia's suspicions that Ramadani, as a former KLA soldier, has committed war crimes in the Nerodime region.
The Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Ivica Dacic, during the visit to the Tabanoc border point on July 25, asked the Skopje authorities to extradite Ramadan to Serbia. The issue of Ramadan's extradition was also opened during the visit of the Minister of Interior of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla, to Skopje. He said that Skopje should decide independently, accusing Serbia of tending to spoil the relations between the states of the Western Balkans.
Ramadani would remain under "house arrest" until August 16. After that, the court must decide whether extradition proceedings should be initiated against Ramadan or whether he should be released.
Ramadani is the third citizen of Kosovo as a former KLA soldier, arrested in North Macedonia on the basis of Serbian arrest warrants. Gafurr Dugolli and Tomorr Morina were arrested, but were released by court decision.
There were protests in Skopje demanding the release of Ramadan.
Blerim Ramadan's measure was changed again, from house arrest to return to custody
The ex-soldier of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Blerim Ramadani, was changed again in North Macedonia from house arrest to return to custody.
This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, reports "KosovaPress".
It was announced in the media in the neighboring country on Thursday that Ramadan has escaped from house arrest in North Macedonia.
Ramadan had been waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court.
"We inform you that the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in North Macedonia has been notified by Ramadan's lawyer that the security measure has been changed from house arrest to return to detention, at the time when he was awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court", he said. Leutrim Sahiti, political advisor in the Ministry of Justice.
Sahiti said that they have not received other official information from the relevant authorities of North Macedonia.
The Basic Criminal Court in Skopje on August 8, 2024 decided not to extradite Blerim Ramadani to Serbia.
