Pristina ruling Banjska saw indictment in Belgrade

In Pristina today, the first decision was made on the attack in Banjska, while no charges have been filed in Belgrade.

Despite calls from the EU, the US and NATO, as well as promises of Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, that those responsible will be prosecuted, this has not happened.

For the armed attack on the Kosovo Police in the country's north, even after nearly three years there is no indictment against organiser Milan Radojic, who is in Belgrade.

He is still barred from leaving his home country and is obliged to appear in police, the Supreme Court in Belgrade confirms to Radio Europe Free, while the Prosecutor's Office is silent about the indictment.

Dusan Janjic, from the Forum for Ethnic Relations in Belgrade, says he does not expect any charges to be filed.

“The Act for Banjska would discredit the president of state, military, police and Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) towards Kosovo”, he tells Radio Free Europe.

The responsibility for the attack on Banjska himself was taken by Radojciq, who was then deputy chairman of the Serbian List, the largest party of Kosovo Serbs, supported by Belgrade.

A Kosovo police officer was killed in that attack, and three others were injured, while in the subsequent armed clashes, three attacks of Serbian nationalism were killed.

In some recordings published by Kosovo authorities, there are armed men among them, including Radojic, in military camouflage uniforms.

According to authorities, they were filmed in the Banjska Monastery courtyard following the attack on the Kosovo Police on 24 September 2023.

What prevents the establishment of the indictment in Belgrade, which chief prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic warned about late 2024 or early 2025, is not clear.

The Supreme Public Prosecutor in Belgrade has not answered Radio Europe's free questions on the issue.

The questions remain about what the investigation has revealed so far, and if, besides Radojici, other persons have been investigated.

In his final response to Radio Free Europe on February 8, 2024, the prosecution has stated that “is verifying the suspect's testimony” Radoiciq.

Of the 45 persons involved in the Kosovo indictment for the armed attack on Banjska, only three have been tried who were arrested in Kosovo while the others are on the run.

Photo of police killed in 2023 in northern Kosovo, Africa Bulnjak, in the rear as his wife, Lumniye Bunjaku, looks at her home at Samadrege in Vushtrria on April 22nd.

For them, in December 2023, international arrest was issued by the international police agency Interpol.

Serbia's Ministry of Interior Affairs has not answered Radio Free Europe questions if it is urging other suspects and what are the obstacles to their arrest.

Supreme Court: Radoiciq must continue to appear in police
Milan Radojicic is still not allowed to leave his home country, go to Kosovo and leave Serbia without the court's approval.

His Serbian passport has been confiscated.

The Supreme Court in Belgrade also told Radio Free Europe that the mandatory performance measure at the competent police station in the Savski Venac municipality is still in force and that it continues to implement it.

The ban on leaving his residence has lasted for the last time on March 31st, another three months, the Supreme Court said.

This measure may last as long as there is need and later until the decision is made of definite shape, but the court considers every three months if further duration is justified.

On the territory of the Belgrade municipality, Savski Vnac, there are several villas and luxury buildings owned by companies and individuals associated with Radociqi.

Janjiq: Kosovo condemns <x0c> marginalized”
The Constitutional Court in Pristina today announces the first-degree verdict on three accused of armed attack on Banjska.

Of the 45 accused, only three have been tried -- those arrested in Kosovo -- Vdalmir Tolliq, Blagoje Spasojevic and Dusan Maksimovic.

They have denied the charges and have said they have not intended to kill.

“Kosovo condemns marginalising”, says Janjic.

“Belgrade has done the farce with the ban and Radojic's confession that he assumes responsibility, but, in the end, has only burdened him with arms trafficking”, he adds.

The former Serbian List deputy chairman has been released after questioning in Belgrade in October 2023.

In Serbia, Radoic was suspected of <x0 heavy anti-safety” and of illegal weapons production, maintenance and trafficking.

Kosovo names the attack in Banjska as a terrorist, while Radoic and other involved are accused of violating constitutional order and actions against Kosovo's judicial system.

Belgrade refuses to extradite the accused, insisting they will be tried in Serbia.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq has repeated this several times.

Milan Radociq during the attack against Kosovo Police in the country's north on 24 September 2023, according to Kosovo authorities.

Dragan Popovic, from the Centre for Practice Policy in Serbia, estimates that those involved enjoy full protection from Serbian authorities.

Yaniq sees another reason for his lack of actions.

According to him, the judgment on Banjska in Serbia could open other cases, such as the dawning of the Serbian politician's Kosovo assassination, Oliver Ivanovic, in 2018.

In Kosovo, in June 2024, four persons of Serbian nationalism have been convicted of involvement in the murder, but its authors and orders have not yet been revealed.

Kosovo's prosecution has also linked the case to Radoichi and his business partner from northern Kosovo, Zvonko Veselinovic.

Radoicic and Veselinovic are mentioned in the indictment as “leader of a criminal group” that has planned Ivanovic's murder.

No charge has been brought against them as they fled.

In Serbia, the case for the murder of Oliver Ivanovic continues to be in the phase of preliminary investigations.

Each is developing its <x0/secrecial”

Earlier, the Supreme Prosecutor in Belgrade has requested information from Kosovo through the European mission for rule of law, E ULEX, in the case of Banjska, but Pristina has rejected the request.

The Kosovo Justice Ministry has declared that only Kosovo judicial institutions have competence for cases carried out on its territory.