The European Union has criticised Serbia for failing to take the necessary steps to arrest and prosecute Milan Radoičić and other individuals residing in Serbia who have been accused of involvement in the armed attack in Banjska, Zvečan, in September 2023.
EU spokesperson Christian Wigand told Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) that the bloc remained concerned by reports of Radoičić’s attendance at an election campaign rally organised by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
“We expect Serbia to cooperate fully through the established channel for mutual legal assistance,” Wigand said, adding that the matter had been dragging on for a long time and that Serbia must address it without further delay.
The EU’s statement follows Radoičić’s appearance at an SNS rally in Kragujevac on October 9, held as part of the campaign for Serbia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25.
Footage published by Serbian broadcaster N1 showed Radoičić standing near Danilo Vučić, the son of the former Serbian president, outside the venue where the rally took place.
RFE/RL contacted the SNS for comment on Radoičić’s presence, but had received no response by the time of publication.
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade previously told RFE/RL that the investigation into Radoičić’s role in the Banjska attack was still ongoing.
However, no indictment has yet been filed in Serbia over the September 24, 2023, attack, when an armed group of Serbs attacked Kosovo Police in Banjska, in northern Kosovo. Police officer Afrim Bunjaku was killed, while three members of the armed group died in the ensuing clashes.
Radoičić admitted responsibility for organising the attack and subsequently resigned as deputy leader of the Serbian List, the largest party representing Serbs in Kosovo.
Kosovo has accused Serbia of being behind the attack, while Serbian authorities have denied the allegations.
Of the 45 people charged by Kosovo’s judicial authorities over the Banjska attack, three have been convicted. The remaining accused, including Radoičić, remain at large and are believed to be in Serbia.
Kosovo has issued several arrest warrants for Radoičić, who is under sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Kingdom over his links to international organised crime.
In August this year, Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office filed an indictment against 20 people, including Radoičić, on suspicion of war crimes against civilians in the Gjakova region during 1998–1999.
The Kosovo government has described Radoičić’s appearance at the SNS rally as evidence of his ties to Serbia’s ruling establishment and has called for him to face justice.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has refused to engage in high-level political dialogue with Serbia since the Banjska attack, demanding that Radoičić be prosecuted and handed over to Kosovo’s justice system.
