Seven Kosovo citizens pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking in human organs at a Pristina court on Tuesday.
The indictment charges them with trafficking in humans, organised crime, illegal medical practices, and abuse of office.
All seven pleaded not guilty, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo said in a press release, adding that the trial would resume on Wednesday.
The indictment alleges that the seven accused got in touch with 20 citizens of Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey, promising each US$ 20,000 for donating a kidney and asking each kidney recipient between $80,000 and 100,000.
A probe into a kidney transplant performed in a private Pristina hospital in 2008 led to the arrest of three persons and the suspension of a Kosovo Health Ministry official, revealing that a Turk had donated a kidney that was transplanted to a citizen of Israel.
