Calls for Justice

To some, it may seem quixotic to still be seeking justice from an uncaring and unflinching government on the other side of the world for the brutal murders of three Hampton Bays brothers in Serbia nearly a quarter of a century ago.

But the family of Ylli, Agron and Mehmet Bytyqi, who were killed by Serbian officials in 1999 after they mistakenly entered the country from bordering Kosovo, haven’t given up. They have continued to put pressure on officials in Serbia, and here in the United States.

U.S. Representative Nick LaLota has introduced legislation, as did his predecessors, Tim Bishop and Lee Zeldin, that requires the U.S. State Department to pressure the Serbian government to bring the Bytyqi brothers’ murderers to justice. He advocates leveraging the nearly $1 billion in aid that Serbia receives from the United States until some action is taken.

In a rare appearance on the East End — during summertime traffic on a Friday — LaLota joined the family outside their Palo Alto Drive home in Hampton Bays on July 7 to “call attention to this untried and unpunished war crime,” and to call on both governments to hold the murderers accountable. “These young men, citizens of the United States, were ruthlessly executed, and justice has remained elusive to their grieving family,” the congressman said.

Ilir Bytyqi, who spoke on behalf of the family, said they would not rest until the murders are prosecuted. “Twenty-four years have gone by,” he said, “and the Serbian government has held no one accountable for the death of my brothers. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

One can only imagine the suffering the family has endured, made worse by the seeming inaction of officials from both the United States and Serbia.

Hopefully, the family can endure the constant struggle, buoyed by the support of LaLota and others willing to draw attention to their plight, and continue the battle until justice is one day realized.