Petar Bošković, a member of the Presidency of the Serbia Center (SRCE) party, delivered a scathing critique of President Aleksandar Vučić’s foreign policy tonight, asserting that the administration’s handling of the 2023 Banjska incident effectively handed full control of northern Kosovo to Prishtina.
Appearing on N1 Television, Bošković described the current state of Serbian diplomacy as “catastrophic,” particularly regarding the protection of the Serbian community in Kosovo.
The “Gift” of Northern Kosovo
Bošković argued that rather than “selling” Kosovo—a common accusation from various political factions—Vučić has essentially “gifted” the northern region to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
“After Banjska, you have a persecution of Serbs and completely unlimited power for Prishtina on the territory of Kosovo; they have completed it,” Bošković stated. “Therefore, I would say that Vučić did not sell Kosovo, but that he gifted it to Kurti.”
He noted that following the armed clash in September 2023, the Serbian government lost its remaining leverage in the north, allowing Prishtina to establish a presence that was previously contested or non-existent.
State Responsibility and the Radoičić Case
The SRCE official challenged the Serbian government’s narrative that it was unaware of the group’s plans in Banjska. He claimed it was “impossible” for the state leadership to be oblivious to an operation of that scale.
- State Backing: Bošković alleged that the group, led by Milan Radoičić, was “organized from the top of the Serbian state.”
- Accusations of Hypocrisy: He called the current regime’s distancing from the defendants in Prishtina “hypocritical,” noting that the “Banjska case will not end… until Belgrade condemns Radoičić.”
Judicial Context: Verdict Expected April 24
Bošković’s comments coincide with a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings in Prishtina. Earlier today (April 20), defense lawyers for the three detained suspects—Dušan Maksimović, Vladimir Tolić, and Blagoje Spasojević—presented their closing arguments.
- The Prosecution: Has requested life imprisonment for all three, charging them with terrorism and attacks on the constitutional order.
- The Defense: Has requested acquittal, arguing a lack of concrete evidence for the specific charges of terrorism.
- The Verdict: The Basic Court in Prishtina announced today that the final verdict will be delivered this Friday, April 24, at 3:00 PM.
The SRCE party continues to frame the Banjska incident not just as a security failure, but as a strategic political surrender that has left the local Serbian population vulnerable to what Bošković describes as “persecution” by the authorities in Prishtina.
