Reps. Zeldin, Engel Reintroduce Legislation to Secure Justice for Bytyqi Brothers

Statement

Representatives Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Eliot Engel (D, NY-16), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reintroduced legislation (H.Con.Res.32) calling for justice following the 1999 executions of NY-1 residents, Ylli, Agron and Mehmet Bytyqi, who resided in Hampton Bays, New York, legislation the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed last year.

In December 2018, the Department of State designated Goran Radosavljevic of Serbia under Section 7031(c) due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights, including the murder of the Bytyqi brothers, and, earlier this year, Ranking Member Zeldin and Chairman Engel met in Munich, Germany, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to continue to demand justice in this case.

Congressman Zeldin said, "In July of 1999, these three brothers went overseas towards the end of the Kosovo war and were arrested by Serbian authorities for illegally entering the country when they accidentally crossed into Serbian-controlled territory. The brothers were kidnapped, murdered, and dumped into a mass grave in Serbia by government officials still serving today. The Bytyqi brothers gave their lives to fight injustice; now, we must secure justice for them."

Chairman Engel said, "This legislation makes it clear that Serbia must fully investigate the Bytyqi brothers' case and bring justice to the families of these murdered New Yorkers. The United States' relationship with Serbia depends on Serbia's adherence to the rule of law and human rights, and commitment to prosecute horrendous criminal cases such as this. I'll keep up the fight and I will not rest until the Bytyqi family and victims of the crimes committed during the Kosovo War see justice."

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