A Hampton Bays family may hopefully be closer to answers regarding the tragic loss of three brothers overseas nearly 25 years ago.
In July 1999, three brothers, Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi, traveled to former Yugoslavia towards the end of the Kosovo War. Upon crossing into Serbian-controlled territory, the three brothers were arrested for illegally entering the country. Shortly after on July 8, they were brutally executed by Serbian rebels. The brothers ranged in age from 21 years to 25 years.
While the Serbian government has investigated the murders, no individuals have been charged and no formal justice has been served.
Congressman Nick LaLota (R) of the First District has followed the actions of his predecessor former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), in that LaLota has introduced a resolution to possibly — and hopefully — bring the Serbian officials responsible to justice and give much- needed, long-overdue closure to the Bytyqi family.
LaLota announced the resolution at the family’s home in Hampton Bays. He was joined by the family as he delivered the matter of the bill, after meeting and speaking with them prior.
“Unpunished war criminals brutally executed the Bytyqi brothers during the Kosovo War. Now, over twenty years later, their family in Suffolk County still has yet to see justice,” said LaLota. “Today, I am calling on the Biden Administration and the Senate to join me and deliver justice for the Bytyqi family. This resolution overwhelmingly passed the House last Congress and I expect my colleagues to support it once again. This family has suffered long enough, let’s deliver for them the closure they rightfully deserve.”
LaLota believes that since the United States has sent over $1 billion to Serbia since 1998, the Serbian government should feel inclined to bring the murderer, or murderers, to justice:
“That money is supposed to go for stability in that country. We think a condition of that money ought to be accountability on this issue. We think that money should come with strings attached. What better way to demonstrate that the Serbian government is for those democratic principles than to hold these murderers accountable?”
A point of the bill is to express that “the Government of Serbia and its relevant ministries and offices, including the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, should make it a priority to investigate and prosecute as soon as possible those current or former officials believed to be responsible for their deaths, directly or indirectly.”
Additionally, “the United States should devote sufficient resources to fully assist and properly monitor efforts by the Government of Serbia and its relevant ministries and offices to investigate and prosecute as soon as possible those individuals believed to be responsible for their deaths, directly or indirectly.”
Finally, a major point of the bill LaLota wishes to express is that the progress in this case will be a “significant factor” in defining the relations between the United States and Serbia.
LaLota has also mentioned that a clear suspect remains in Serbian official Goran Radosavljević, a former police colonel general and the Commander of the Gendarmery of Serbia from 2001 to 2004. During the Kosovo War, he was the leader of a group of counter-terrorists who combated the Kosovo Liberation Army.
Members of Congress have urged Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to extradite Radosavljević, which the president has reportedly refused on the grounds that there is “no evidence for his arrest.”
One of the Bytyqi brothers, Ilir, spoke at the podium after LaLota. He thanked LaLota for his support and his work:
“We are grateful to have you support the family during this long journey of justice.”
Ilir spoke briefly and succinctly, criticizing the Serbian government’s lack of action and even mentioned Radosavljević by name:
“As we know, the Serbian government is responsible for the murder of my brothers and justice is long overdue. My family will not rest until everyone responsible for my brothers’ murder is successfully prosecuted. Twenty-four years have gone by and the Serbian government has not held anyone accountable for the deaths of my brothers.”
Ilir ended with a profound phrase:
“Justice delayed is justice denied.”
The previous iteration of the bill passed almost unanimously in the House last year in a 423-1 vote when filed by Zeldin. The Senate did not take the bill up, not because of lack of bipartisanship, but rather that not every bill that makes it through the House makes it through the Senate. LaLota believes that by acting earlier in the Congressional season, there is a much larger chance that the bill clears the Senate and heads to the President’s desk.
LaLota mentioned that he has been in contact with several potential Senate sponsors and that the resolution will likely be overwhelmingly bipartisan in both chambers of Congress.
