Serbian language channel on Telegram "Српска Спарта- Info"has published two photographs, through which he claimed that "In Burrel (Albania), in the occupied house of the Katuçi family, people close to Hashim Thaçi improvised a clinic in 1999 where organs were removed from prisoners, which were then illegally sold to wealthy buyers in Western Europe, the USA, Canada and Middle Eastern countries.".
According to this claim, several European politicians were also involved in this criminal activity, while the profits amounted to around 50 thousand dollars per victim and the transport of organs was often carried out on commercial flights through the "Mother Teresa" airport.
The truth?
The claim that operations for the trafficking of Serb organs were carried out in the so-called “yellow house” has never been proven by international investigations. Also, the photographs used in the publication were not taken in Burrel and have no connection to the allegations of organ trafficking.
In fact, the photographs were taken in Kosovo during the 1998–1999 war and depict medical personnel of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) providing health treatment to its members.
FACTS
Through the use of the image verification tool "InVID", Hibrid.info has identified the original source of the photos published on Telegram.
The first photo appears to have been published by the British photo agency "Alamy" and was taken in May 1999 (see here).
The description of this photo says “KLA Field Hospital in Kosovo, May 1999. Doctor Iliriana Hasaj, 29, working in the makeshift field hospital treating the first wounded here, pulled out a syringe.”
The second photo was found published in an article by the online medium "insajderi.com" in 2018 (see here). The description of the photo says "Time Kadrijaj (right in the photo) treating Commander Agim Ramadani during the war in Kosovo.
Hibrid.info has also found an interview with former KLA member, Time Kadrijaj, who stated on the show "OXYGEN" that the photograph in question was taken in Koshare, during the war (see here).
Based on the original sources of the photos and the lack of evidence supporting the claims of organ trafficking, it appears that the claim published by the Serbian-language channel on Telegram is false and that the photos have been presented out of their real context.
Investigations so far into the "yellow house"
Investigations conducted at the so-called "yellow house" in a village near Burrel in northern Albania have failed to substantiate claims that human organs were removed for commercial purposes in this house.
A March 2004 report compiled by five international experts from the Hague Tribunal and the United Nations states that based on examinations, there is no convincing evidence that blood was shed in this house as a result of criminal acts. (here)
The "Yellow House" was first mentioned in the book by former International Court of Justice prosecutor Carla del Ponte, "The Hunt: Me and the War Criminals ", and then in report of the then Swiss senator, Dick Marty, which was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 2010.
We recall that the Special Court in The Hague, also known as "Specialized Rooms"was created with the claims of Dick Marty's "yellow house" report (hereHowever, these claims were never proven, and there is no element of organ trafficking in the indictments (here).
The lack of evidence was also confirmed by the head of the EULEX Investigative Task Force, Clint Williamson, who said that such a claim has never been proven (here).
Analyze
The Telegram channel "Srpska Sparta - Info" has falsely claimed that two photographs depict an improvised clinic in Burrel where organ harvesting and trafficking were carried out in 1999 by people associated with Hashim Thaçi, with the involvement of European politicians and the sale of organs on international markets.
After verifying the facts, it was confirmed that these claims are unfounded, as the "yellow house" has never been proven to be a place of organ trafficking, while the photographs were taken in Kosovo during the war and show KLA medical personnel treating the wounded.
Based on its working methodology, hibrid.info assesses this content as "disinformation".
rationale
"Disinformation" is defined as information content that contains a "mix" of inaccurate sources or even half-truthful attributes, and that is created and/or distributed with the deliberate intention of causing harm. The motive behind the producers/distributors of disinformation content lies in achieving a political, financial, psychological or social goal.