The caretaker Government of Kosovo issued a stark warning on Wednesday, declaring that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is actively incentivizing violent attacks against Kosovo law enforcement by publicly defending paramilitary leader Milan Radoičić.
The fierce diplomatic pushback follows Vučić’s recent public remarks downplaying an Interpol red notice against Radoičić, claiming the fugitive is wanted for “political reasons surrounding Kosovo” rather than actual criminal acts.
“Vučić’s statement proves that he entirely controls the Serbian judiciary,” Kosovo government spokesperson Arlind Manxhuka told Radio Free Europe. “It sends a clear message that attacks against Kosovo police officers do not constitute a crime in the eyes of Belgrade and are, in fact, openly encouraged by the Serbian head of state.”
The Impunity of the Banjska Ringleader
Despite publicly claiming sole responsibility for organizing and executing the deadly September 24, 2023, assault in Banjska—which resulted in the killing of Kosovo police officer Afrim Bunjaku—Radoičić remains a free citizen residing openly in Belgrade.
- The Legal Status: To date, Serbia has refused to file formal criminal indictments or cooperate with international warrants against him.
- The Transatlantic Demand: Because Kosovo is not an Interpol member, the international arrest warrant was legally secured via the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Kosovo authorities, backed by the U.S. and the European Union, have continuously demanded that Belgrade extradite Radoičić to face trial.
State-Sponsored Subversion and Regional Risks
Spokesperson Manxhuka emphasized that the logistical footprint of the Banjska attack leaves no doubt regarding Belgrade’s direct complicity. The heavily armed group was organized, trained, and supplied with official military-grade weapons manufactured by state factories in Serbia, as verified by evidence collected on the ground.
Kosovo’s Special Prosecution has already indicted 45 individuals for the terrorist raid, labeling Radoičić as the chief operator of the cell. Earlier this year, the Basic Court in Prishtina handed down historic convictions for three captured conspirators, sentencing two to life imprisonment and one to 30 years.
Conclusively, the Kosovo executive called on international partners to immediately condemn Serbia’s ongoing administrative degradation, warning that shielding armed militants sets a highly dangerous precedent that threatens broader security and geopolitical peace across the Western Balkans.
