Prishtina, July 24, 2025 — The Basic Court in Prishtina has closed Thursday’s hearing to the public in the ongoing “Banjska” trial, following a request from Special Prosecutor Naim Abazi. The case involves three defendants—Vladimir Toliq, Dushan Maksimović, and Blagoje Spasojević—accused of participating in the September 24, 2023 terrorist attack in the village of Banjska, Zvečan.
Prosecutor Abazi argued that the testimony of witness Velko Ilić contains highly sensitive information pertaining to national security, illegal parallel structures in northern Kosovo, and individuals linked to the armed assault that resulted in the death of Kosovo Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku.
“This testimony involves details regarding recruitment, financing, and communication with suspected illegal structures, as well as individuals involved in the armed attack in Banjska—an event with serious consequences for Kosovo’s constitutional order,” Abazi stated, requesting confidentiality under Article 298 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The presiding judge, Arben Hoti, granted the request after obtaining opinions from all parties. The witness, Ilić, cited health concerns and stress as reasons for not being able to endure a full-length hearing.
This is not the first time the court has closed hearings in this case. The July 18 session was postponed due to the absence of anonymous witness A2, while the July 21 hearing was also closed to protect the identity of anonymous witness F1. On July 22, witnesses Halim Behramaj and Rade Nedelković were heard in open court.
Earlier, the court had rejected the prosecutor’s request to proceed with the trial in absentia for the remaining 42 defendants (41 individuals and one legal entity). The Supreme Court clarified that it does not provide legal opinions on procedural uncertainties faced by lower courts.
To date, international arrest warrants remain in effect for the remaining suspects. Those under custody—Spasojević, Toliq, and Maksimović—had pleaded not guilty in both the initial and subsequent hearings.
The Special Prosecution’s indictment accuses Milan Radoičić and 44 others, including the company RAD D.O.O., of orchestrating the attack with the aim of forcibly detaching the northern territory of Kosovo to annex it to Serbia. The assault involved heavy weaponry, resulting in the death of police officer Afrim Bunjaku and endangering other officers and civilians.
During the attack on September 24, 2023, three assailants were killed following a shootout, while others retreated and hid inside the Banjska Monastery. Milan Radoičić later publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
The “Banjska” case remains one of the most serious terrorism trials in Kosovo’s post-war judicial history.
