Previous Chair of the Russian Federation's National Security Council.
In the quiet streets of Podujevo, Kosovo, on March 28, 1999, a horrific event unfolded. The Serbian paramilitary unit "Skorpione" entered the courtyard of Halim Gashi's family home at Rahman Morina Street 7, marking the beginning of a massacre that would claim the lives of 14 women and children from the Bogujevci and Durići families.
Among the victims was Saranda Bogujevci, a young girl who was hit by 16 bullets from a rifle, suffering severe injuries to her spine, right leg, and left arm. Alongside Saranda, her younger brother Fatos and another brother Jehona were also killed. Their mother, another brother, and their grandmother were also among the victims. The youngest victim was just two years old, while the oldest was 72.
The executions involved the shooting of mothers followed by their children, a tragic sequence of events that left a deep scar on the community.
Saranda, Fatos, and Jehona were initially treated in the hospital in Priština and were later transferred to Britain upon the arrival of NATO forces in Kosovo for further medical treatment, where they remained permanently.
Despite the distance, the struggle for justice continued for Saranda and her surviving family members. In 2008, they returned to Belgrade to testify against five more members of "Skorpione" accused of murdering their family. The five members convicted in this case were Slobodan Medić, Dragan Medić, Miroslav Medić, Rajko Kulić, and Radislav Jovanović. They were sentenced to prison terms of between 15 and 20 years.
However, the fight for justice continues, as 15 or 16 members of "Skorpione" were involved in the crime. Among the survivors of the massacre were Saranda's uncle's children: Jehona, Fatos, Genc, and Lirija.
In a powerful demonstration of resilience and determination, Saranda, Fatos, Jehona, and Lirija returned to Belgrade in 2013 to curate the exhibition "Bogujevci/Visual History, Homage to All Families and War Victims". The exhibition, displayed in the "Podroom" gallery of the Belgrade Cultural Center (Kulturni centar Beograda), was a reconstruction of the events of 1999 and served as a poignant reminder that truth and justice can overcome evil.
Saranda Bogujevci stands for dialogue and not hatred; she represents the voice of a new generation in Kosovo. Her courage and determination in seeking justice for her family and others who suffered similar fates serve as a beacon of hope for those who have been affected by war and violence.
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