Kosovo Prosecutes 45 Individuals for Armed Confrontation with Serb Gunmen

Kosovo Prosecutors Charge 45 Individuals Over Armed Confrontation

On Wednesday, prosecutors in Kosovo announced the filing of charges against 45 individuals in connection with the planning and instigation of a violent confrontation involving heavily armed Serb gunmen that occurred last year. This incident, which unfolded in the village of Banjska, resulted in the tragic deaths of a Kosovo policeman and three Serb gunmen during a fierce shootout.

The government in Pristina has accused Serbia of being complicit in this armed conflict; however, Belgrade has categorically denied these allegations. Among those charged in absentia is Milan Radoičić, a prominent politician and affluent businessman known for his connections to Serbia’s ruling populist party and President Aleksandar Vučić. Prosecutor Naim Abazi described Radoičić as the leader of the group, emphasizing his significant role in both coordinating and executing the criminal activities.

Last year, Radoičić was briefly detained in Serbia after he returned there, facing suspicions of criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of weapons and explosives, as well as grave acts against public safety. Although he denied these charges, he had previously acknowledged his involvement with the paramilitary group implicated in the violent clash.

Additionally, Radoičić is currently under sanctions imposed by both the United States and the United Kingdom due to alleged financial misconduct. In response to the charges, the Serbian government asserted that Radoičić and his associates acted independently, without any state support.

The individuals charged are facing serious allegations, including violations of the constitutional and legal order, terrorism-related activities, financing terrorism, and money laundering. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutor Abazi characterized this case as the “most complex” ever encountered by their office, highlighting the close collaboration with international institutions, including Brussels and Washington, to formulate robust charges.

Officials from the European Union and the United States have called for Serbia to ensure that the perpetrators of this violence are brought to justice. Furthermore, both the EU and the US are pressing Kosovo and Serbia to implement previously agreed-upon commitments made by President Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in February and March of last year. These agreements include a pledge from Kosovo to establish a Community of Serb Municipalities, an organization intended to represent the interests of ethnic Serb-majority municipalities.

The backdrop to these events is significant; Kosovo was previously a province of Serbia until NATO’s 78-day bombing campaign in 1999, which concluded a brutal conflict between Belgrade’s forces and ethnic Albanian separatists. That conflict resulted in approximately 13,000 fatalities, predominantly among ethnic Albanians. Following a period as a UN protectorate, Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, a move that has been recognized by most EU member states, the United States, and the United Kingdom, though Serbia continues to reject Kosovo’s sovereignty.