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EU reiterates call for perpetrators of Banjska attack to face justice

2025-09-24 17:37:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The European Union has reiterated its call for the perpetrators of the armed attack in Banjska, Zve?an, to face justice.

“We expect the authorities in Serbia to arrest and prosecute those found in Serbia with relevant charges before a court in Serbia,” the European Union Office in Kosovo said in a response sent to Radio Free Europe on the two-year anniversary of the attack in Banjska.

On September 24, 2023, a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police in Banjska, killing Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku.

During the ensuing clashes, three more Serb attackers were killed.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Milan Radoicic, former vice-president of the Serbian List, the main Serb party in Kosovo that enjoys the support of Belgrade.

Authorities in Kosovo are seeking his extradition to Serbia. Radoicic is in Belgrade and, according to Serbian authorities, he must report twice a month.

Last year, Kosovo filed indictments against 45 suspects for the attack in Banjska, while only three of these defendants are being tried in Pristina, as the others are inaccessible to Kosovo authorities. All three deny the charges.

The EU said it remains "concerned by reports of the participation of the suspected Banjska attackers in protests" in Serbia.

Suspects in the Banjska attack were also seen at anti-government protests being organized by students this summer. They were seen “guarding” the workplace of Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? during the massive anti-government protests.

The EU Office in Kosovo also said that in October 2023, the bloc's special representative in Kosovo sent a request for mutual legal assistance from Kosovo authorities to Serbian ones in this case.

"We have not yet received a response from the Serbian authorities. We expect Serbia to cooperate on these requests through the mutual legal assistance channel," the EU said.

"EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has raised this issue with [Serbian] President Aleksandar] Vu?i?. She will continue to raise this issue in her meetings with Western Balkan leaders in New York."

Kosovo blames Serbia for the attack, which it considers a terrorist act and an act of aggression. Belgrade denies any involvement.

On the second anniversary of the attack in Banjska, Kosovo authorities reiterated calls for the extradition from Serbia of those accused of this event.

Kosovo has repeatedly asked the international community to put pressure on Serbia, but Belgrade refuses to extradite the defendants, saying they will be tried in Serbia. However, Serbia has not yet filed any indictments in the case./ Rel