Kosovo’s justice system is handling two high-profile cases with major implications for national security, constitutional order, and the country’s stability.
Both cases involve serious attacks: the terrorist attack in Banjskë on 24 September 2023 and the explosion in the Ibër‑Lepenc water channel in November 2024, Reporteri.net reports. These incidents mark critical moments in Kosovo’s efforts to prosecute serious crimes, for which the government accuses the Serbian state of involvement.
Terrorist Attack in Banjskë
On 24 September 2023, an armed group of Serbs attacked Kosovo Police in the village of Banjskë, Zvečan. During the clash, Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed, two police officers were wounded, and three attackers were killed. Milan Radoičić, former vice president of the Serbian List and a key political figure in northern Kosovo, claimed responsibility for the attack; he remains outside Kosovo.
The Kosovo Special Prosecution has indicted 45 individuals, including Radoičić, for terrorism and acts threatening the constitutional order. Currently, only three suspects – Vladimir Tolić, Blagoje Spasojević, and Dušan Maksimović – are in custody; the rest are at large with international arrest warrants issued.
Court sessions began in 2024 but have been postponed several times due to unavailability of anonymous witnesses and defense requests for physical copies of the indictment. Defense attorneys have challenged trials in absentia, while the court sought a legal opinion from the Supreme Court regarding interpretation of the law.
Special Prosecutor Naim Abazi emphasized that the accused had various roles within the criminal group, from organizing and financing terrorist activities to money laundering and witness intimidation. The attack aimed to separate northern Kosovo and unite it with Serbia, using armed violence and detailed planning.
The case has drawn international attention, with the U.S., U.K., and EU condemning the attack and calling for the perpetrators to face justice. Kosovo authorities assert that the attack was orchestrated by armed groups operating from Serbia, while Belgrade denies involvement, framing the case as a police investigation, not a terrorist act.
Explosion in the Ibër‑Lepenc Channel
On 29 November 2024, three suspects – brothers Dragisha and Jovan Vičentijević, and Igor Dimović – planted approximately 20 kilograms of TNT explosives in the Ibër‑Lepenc channel, a critical infrastructure facility supplying drinking water and water for electricity production at KEK.
The explosion caused serious structural damage, disrupted water supply, and threatened nationwide electricity production. The estimated material damage is €376,774.
The preliminary hearing for this case is scheduled for 24 December 2025 at 09:30, confirmed by the spokesperson of the Pristina Basic Court, Mirlinda Gashi.
The Special Prosecution charges the three with terrorism, endangering constitutional order, intimidating the population, and damaging critical infrastructure. According to the indictment, the explosion was coordinated and deliberate, with the intent to create a major security impact in Kosovo.
These two cases represent key tests for Kosovo’s justice system and its ability to prosecute high-profile security threats while maintaining constitutional order.
