Banjska attack/EU: Serbia has still not brought those responsible to justice

2026-04-27 13:19:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The European Union told Radio Free Europe on Monday that it regrets that Serbia has not yet taken the necessary steps to bring to justice those responsible for the attack on the Kosovo village of Banjska in 2023.

An EU spokesperson made these statements while commenting on the decision of the Basic Court in Pristina, which on April 24 sentenced the three defendants in the attack: Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic to life imprisonment, and Dusan Maksimovic to 30 years in prison.

The attack in Banjska took place on September 24, 2023, resulting in the death of Kosovo Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. Three Serb attackers were also killed in the ensuing exchange of gunfire.

Milan Radoi?i?, then vice-president of the Serbian List - the largest Serb party in Kosovo, which enjoys the support of official Belgrade - claimed responsibility for the attack.

The three convicts were part of a group of 45 people against whom Kosovo authorities have filed indictments, including Radoicic. In addition to the three convicts, the rest of the accused are at large.

Kosovo authorities say Radoicic was the "leader of a terrorist group" and that the attack was organized by the Serbian state. Belgrade, on the other hand, denies these accusations.

Authorities in Kosovo have separated the criminal proceedings against Spasojevic, Tollic and Maksimovic, who have been in custody since September 2023, while rejecting the Special Prosecution's request for a trial in absentia for the other 42 defendants.

European Union institutions have regularly called on Belgrade authorities to determine responsibility for the attack and bring those responsible to justice.

However, despite calls from the European bloc, the United States and NATO, authorities in Serbia have not filed any indictments, not even against Radoicic, who is believed to be in Belgrade.

The High Court in Belgrade has announced that there is a decision prohibiting Radoicic from leaving his apartment and that he is obliged to report to the police, while the Prosecutor's Office has not commented on any possible indictment. /REL