On Wednesday morning, the County Prosecutor’s Office in Split questioned two individuals on charges of espionage: A. M., a sociologist from North Mitrovica, and J. I., a Croatian Air Force pilot from Split.
According to the Croatian daily Slobodna Dalmacija, the couple had been arrested a month earlier, at the end of July, while vacationing on one of the islands near Split. Initially, the pilot was released, while his girlfriend was transferred to the Foreigners’ Transit Center in Trilj, pending deportation and a 10-year entry ban from Croatia.
However, investigators—acting under court order—searched their mobile phones and communication records during this period. The search revealed compromising messages, raising suspicions of international espionage.
Alleged Sharing of KFOR Secrets
Croatian investigators claim that over the past three years, the pilot shared sensitive military information with his partner, particularly concerning NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), where he had previously served as part of the Croatian contingent (HRVCON).
Through WhatsApp, he allegedly sent her details about troop movements and operational plans in northern Kosovo. A. M. is accused of then passing this information to members of the Serb List political party, which has close ties to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and even to a journalist from a well-known international news agency.
The Croatian Penal Code stipulates that anyone who “collects classified information with the intention of making it available to a foreign state, organization, or agent” faces a prison sentence ranging from six months to five years.
Four Documented Cases of Espionage
Prosecutors suspect the couple in at least four specific cases of espionage. One involved intelligence related to KFOR’s activities in Zubin Potok, a Serb-majority municipality in northern Kosovo known for recurring tensions, barricades, and clashes with peacekeeping forces.
Another case allegedly concerned the arrest of Dejan Pantić, a former Kosovo police officer detained in December 2022 for an attack on the Central Election Commission’s office in northern Kosovo. His detention triggered large-scale protests and road barricades by local Serbs. Reports suggest the pilot leaked internal KFOR information about Pantić’s transport, though Kosovo’s request for a KFOR helicopter was ultimately denied for security reasons. Pantić was later sentenced to two years in prison for using explosives against election officials.
Links to 2024 Zubin Potok Explosion
The espionage probe also ties into unrest following the November 2024 explosion on the Ibër–Lepenc canal near Zubin Potok. Kosovo authorities labeled the incident a terrorist act orchestrated from Belgrade, while Serbia dismissed the accusations, framing it as an attack “against peace.” The blast disrupted water supplies for hundreds of thousands of residents and threatened Kosovo’s energy security by affecting two major power plants.
After the explosion, Kosovo requested to deploy its Security Force (FSK) to the area, but KFOR refused. Instead, NATO-led troops took direct control of protecting the damaged canal.
Ongoing Investigation
The espionage scandal has stirred significant attention in both Croatia and the Balkans, given the sensitive geopolitical implications. The case highlights the fragile balance in northern Kosovo, where Serbian influence remains strong, and where NATO’s KFOR mission continues to play a decisive security role.
If convicted, both the Croatian pilot and his partner from North Mitrovica could face prison terms, while the political fallout of the affair may extend beyond Croatia’s borders.