The European Union (EU) has once again called on Serbia to take immediate steps to bring those suspected of being responsible for the deadly attack in Banjskë, Kosovo, in the autumn of 2023 to justice, reports RFE.
“We have taken into account the announcement from the Belgrade Prosecutor’s Office on December 2, 2024, regarding the opening of investigations into this case,” said an EU spokesperson on Friday.
He added that Serbia is obligated to cooperate in the investigation of the Banjskë incident.
On September 24, 2023, a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police in Banjskë, Zvečan, killing one Kosovo police officer. During the subsequent exchange of fire, three Serbian attackers were also killed.
Kosovo holds Serbia responsible for the attack, which Serbia denies being involved in.
Milan Radoičić’s Role and the Case
Milan Radoičić, the former vice president of the Serb List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo that enjoys support from Belgrade, has been held accountable for the attack.
In September of last year, Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against 45 individuals, including Radoičić, for their involvement in the armed assault in Banjskë.
Serbian authorities refuse to extradite Radoičić to Kosovo, claiming he will be tried in Serbian courts, while Kosovo officials assert that they have offered him protection.
In December, Nenad Stefanović, the Chief Prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, stated that a decision regarding the indictment of Radoičić would be made by early 2025.
In Serbia, Radoičić is also suspected of other criminal offenses, including “serious crimes against public safety and the illegal production, possession, and trafficking of arms.”
EU’s Stance on Serbia’s EU Accession
Meanwhile, the EU spokesperson reiterated on Friday that Serbia’s progress in accession talks would depend on its progress in normalizing relations with Kosovo and upholding the rule of law.
In December, EU member states could not agree on whether Serbia had met all the conditions to open new chapters in its EU accession negotiations, even though the European Commission had assessed that Serbia had fulfilled those requirements.
Several EU member states specifically voiced concerns about the lack of results in bringing those responsible for the Banjskë attack to justice. Some were particularly dissatisfied with the fact that there has still been no indictment against Radoičić.
