Kosovo begins excavations at newly found mass graves from 1998-99 war
Nearly 30 years after the conflict, Kosovo has started digging at recently discovered graves believed to hold missing intellectuals and other victims.
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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 6 items across 3 sources · 1m ago. Quotes are verbatim.
Kosovo has begun excavations at newly discovered mass graves linked to the 1998-99 war, with authorities believing the remains may include 23 intellectuals who disappeared in April 1999. Around 1,600 people remain missing from the conflict, scattered in unmarked graves across the region. The discovery offers cautious hope to families like that of Erblin Ademi, whose father—a prominent surgeon—vanished nearly 30 years ago.
- Kosovo has begun excavations at newly discovered mass graves believed to contain remains of 23 intellectuals who disappeared in April 1999, including prominent surgeon Adem Ademi.
- Approximately 1,600 people remain missing from the 1998-99 Kosovo war, scattered in unmarked graves across the region; this discovery offers hope to families after nearly 30 years.
- Kosovo authorities arrested two ethnic Serbs on suspicion of war crimes related to the mass graves, and Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated authorities believe the victims could be the missing intellectuals.
- Cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia on clarifying the fate of the missing remains stalled, with human rights groups expressing skepticism about authorities' willingness to work together.
How it unfolded
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Associated Press and other outlets report on the excavations, noting that Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti believes the victims could be the missing intellectuals. Around 1,600 people remain missing from the conflict overall.
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Workers began excavating recently discovered mass graves from the 1998-99 war in Kosovo. Erblin Ademi watched from afar, nearly 30 years after his father went missing.
“Always, when we hear about the beginning of the excavations, there is a mixed feeling, a feeling of hope and a feeling of pain.”
Erblin Ademi · Press ↗ -
Excavations near the village of Kalluder e Vogel in the northern municipality of Zubin Potok began in late July 2026 after the discovery of human remains there.
- 1426 weeks quiet
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Adem Ademi, a prominent surgeon, and 22 other intellectuals disappeared in April 1999 as they were trying to flee Kosovo to avoid being rounded up by Serb troops. This occurred months before the end of the war.
What people are saying verbatim
“Always, when we hear about the beginning of the excavations, there is a mixed feeling, a feeling of hope and a feeling of pain. No matter how many years pass, the feeling of pain will always exist.”
Erblin Ademi, Son of missing surgeon Adem Ademi · AP News / Philadelphia Inquirer ↗ · Aug 11
“Every human being has the right to have a grave where they can be visited, where they can be honored, where they can be remembered. We are very hopeful that this will be the end.”
Erblin Ademi, Son of missing surgeon Adem Ademi · AP News / Philadelphia Inquirer ↗ · Aug 11
“It is obvious that authorities are not willing to cooperate.”
Bekim Blakaj, Humanitarian Law Center · AP News / Philadelphia Inquirer ↗ · Aug 11
“Erblin Ademi watched from afar as workers excavated recently discovered mass graves from the 1998-99 war in Kosovo. Nearly 30 years after his father went missing, Ademi both feared and wished that his remains will finally be found.”
AP News, News agency · AP News / Philadelphia Inquirer ↗ · Aug 11