Indictment against a Serbian List MP for attacks on journalists in the north

2025-06-13 21:15:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica has filed an indictment against the MP from the Serbian List, Slavko Simi?, in connection with the attacks on journalists in Leposavic in June 2023.

In the announcement, the Prosecution identified the accused only by initials, but Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty understands that it is MP Simi?.

He is accused of "participating in a crowd committing a criminal offense and hooliganism."

According to the report, on June 16, 2023, during the protests against the visit of the minister, now in charge of the Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, "intentionally participated in the crowd of more than eight people, so that at the moment that Minister EK left the Leposaviq municipality building, masked civilians began to throw stun grenades in the direction of the official vehicle, and after the official vehicle passed, the defendant gave orders to the crowd, telling them to attack the media."

According to the Prosecution, the attack continued towards the journalists, initially with bombs, then the crowd hit them with punches, kicks, hard objects, concrete bricks, paint and other objects, and during this attack two journalists suffered serious bodily injuries.

"Meanwhile, the other defendant UV, as directly involved in the use of force against journalists of the Republic of Kosovo, is accused of committing the criminal offenses 'Assault' and 'Participation in a crowd committing a criminal offense and hooliganism'," the announcement said, adding that the Prosecution requests the court to find both guilty and to punish them according to the law.

The attack of June 16, 2023, was condemned by local politicians and the United States of America.

In 2023, in Leposavic but also in three other municipalities in northern Kosovo – inhabited by a Serb majority – journalists were the target of several attacks and violence, as they were covering protests by local Serbs against elected Albanian mayors.

The Serb leaders of these municipalities had previously withdrawn, and then the Serb parties and local Serbs boycotted the elections held in April, when Albanian mayors were elected.

The protests began when new municipal leaders went to their offices to start work. Tensions in the north culminated in clashes between protesters and members of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, in Zvecan on May 29.

Dozens of KFOR soldiers and protesters were injured during the clash in Zvecan./ Rel