HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Marking the solemn anniversary of their execution, Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY-01) last week reintroduced H. Con. Res. 41, a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives demanding long-overdue accountability for the brutal murders of Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi—three American citizens from Hampton Bays—killed during the Kosovo War. LaLota’s resolution renews the call for justice and urges the U.S. government to press Serbia to investigate and prosecute those responsible. “We honor the memory of Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi—with heavy hearts and unshaken resolve. To mark the solemn anniversary of their tragic loss, I am reintroducing H. Con. Res. 41 to reaffirm Congress’s commitment: those responsible for the execution of three young American brothers must be held to account,” said LaLota. “Justice delayed is justice denied—but today, we send a clear message: we will not rest until the Bytyqi family receives the truth, the accountability, and the closure that has been too long withheld.” To read the full text of H. Con Res. 41, click HERE. Background:In 1999, brothers Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi—proud residents of Hampton Bays—traveled overseas to provide humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the Kosovo War. While on a humanitarian mission, unarmed and in plain clothes, the brothers accidentally crossed an unmarked border into Serbian-controlled territory, where they were arrested by Serbian authorities on July 8, 1999, and later executed. Despite over two decades of promises and investigations, no one has been held accountable for their murders. In 2018, the U.S. State Department sanctioned Serbian official Goran Radosavljevic under Section 7031(c) for his role in the gross human rights abuses, including the murders of the Bytyqi brothers. LaLota’s resolution expresses the sense of Congress that: Those responsible for the murders of U.S. citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi must be brought to justice; It is unacceptable that no one has ever been charged or convicted for these heinous crimes; The Serbian government, including its War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, must make investigating and prosecuting those involved a top priority; The United States should continue to dedicate resources to assist and monitor Serbia’s efforts to bring those responsible to justice; and Progress on this case should remain a critical factor in the future of U.S.-Serbia relations.
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