A memorial football tournament has been held in Serbia for individuals linked to the terrorist attack in Banjska, northern Kosovo, in September 2023. The event has been publicly promoted on telegram in posts with messages such as: “What a day, what an event!
Today a memorial tournament is being held for our brother Stefan! Stefan Nedeljković lives!”
The tournament, presented as a memorial for Stefan Nedeljković one of the individuals killed during the Banjska terrorist attack, comes in the context of Serbia’s continued refusal to extradite or prosecute Milan Radoičić, who publicly admitted to organizing the armed group responsible for the attack. Rather than distancing itself from the incident, Serbia is allowing and indirectly enabling public commemorations of those involved, effectively transforming terrorists into figures of public honor within certain narratives. The Banjska terrorist attack represents a coordinated armed operation against law enforcement, resulting in the death of a Kosovo Police officer and triggering a major security crisis. The organization of memorial events in Serbia is evidence that individuals involved in terrorist attacks are not only avoiding accountability but are also being publicly commemorated, deepening concerns over impunity and the lack of judicial cooperation from Belgrade.
Meanwhile, Kosovo institutions continue to insist that full accountability for the Banjska attack remains essential for justice, regional stability, and the rule of law.
