Nineteen ethnic Albanians were tried in Pristina on 8 December. They are charged with founding an illegal organization aiming at the violent secession of Kosovo from Yugoslavia. Six of them are also charged with illegally obtaining or possessing weapons. AI is concerned about reports that the accused were severely beaten in detention in order to obtain statements and about other complaints of procedural violations. Ahmet Haxhiu was released due to severe ill-health; Sanie Aliu has also been released. The others are held in Pristina Prison.
