The anniversary of the mass kidnapping and execution of Serbs and the Roma in the Orahovac Municipality is being commemorated in Velika Hoča. The crime was committed by the members of the Albanian terrorist organization of UCK 24 years ago.

47 persons were killed in the Orahovac Municipality in July 1998, and more than 100 Serbs and the Roma, mostly civilians, were kidnapped and taken to prisons and Albanian terrorist organization of UCK camps.

The kidnapping in the Orahovac Municipality is the first group removal of Serbs and the Roma during the conflicts in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999.

The entire Serbian population of the villages of Retimlja, Opteruša and Zočište was exiled. Many are listed as missing persons to this day. 14 men from the Kostić family were kidnapped in one day in the village of Retimlja.

The remains of 36 persons kidnapped in July 1998 were discovered in Mališevo and Volujak in 2005.

Nobody has yet been held responsible for the crimes against Serbs in the villages near Orahovac.