The Basic Court of Prishtina has officially scheduled the verdict announcement for the three men accused of participating in the 2023 armed attack in the village of Banjska. The judgment will be delivered this Friday, April 24, at 3:00 PM.
The trial centers on the events of September 24, 2023, when an armed Serbian group attacked Kosovo Police, resulting in the death of Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. The subsequent shootout also left three of the attackers dead.
The Defendants and Possible Sentences
The three defendants—Vladimir Tolić, Blagoje Spasojević, and Dušan Maksimović—were arrested during or immediately following the attack.
- Prosecution’s Demand: Last week, the Special Prosecution of Kosovo requested life imprisonment for all three men, characterizing the attack as a terrorist act aimed at annexing northern Kosovo to Serbia.
- Defense Argument: All three defendants have pleaded not guilty. During the closing statements, defense attorneys requested an acquittal, arguing that the evidence failed to prove their clients’ direct involvement in the specific criminal acts of terrorism and armed insurrection.
The Broader Indictment and Milan Radoičić
The three men in custody are part of a larger group of 45 individuals indicted for their roles in the Banjska incident.
- Milan Radoičić: The former Vice President of the Serb List, who publicly claimed responsibility for organizing the attack, remains at large in Serbia.
- Trial in Absentia: While the prosecution sought to try Radoičić and the 41 other fugitive suspects in absentia, the Basic Court previously rejected the request, citing a lack of legal grounds under the current Criminal Procedure Code.
Recent Arrest in Merdare
The looming verdict follows the recent arrest of a 46th suspect, Stefan Radulović, who was apprehended on April 17 at the Merdare border crossing. Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla described Radulović as “another suspected terrorist” wanted for his alleged role in the Zvečan attack.
The April 24 ruling is anticipated as a landmark decision in Kosovo’s judicial history, representing the first formal legal conclusion regarding an incident that brought regional tensions to their highest point in decades.
