The European Union has expressed renewed concern over Serbia’s failure to take the necessary steps to bring Milan Radoičić and other suspects to justice over the September 2023 armed attack in Banjska, northern Kosovo. The EU’s criticism follows Radoičić’s appearance at a campaign rally organized by Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Kragujevac.
 |
Christian Wiegand, an EU spokesperson, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that the bloc remains concerned by reports of Radoičić’s presence at the rally and expects Serbia to cooperate fully through established channels of mutual legal assistance.
Wiegand said the case had been delayed for too long and urged Serbian authorities to address it without further postponement.
The EU’s statement comes amid renewed scrutiny of Radoičić’s position in Serbia and the status of the investigation into the Banjska attack, which significantly escalated tensions between Belgrade and Pristina.
Radoičić Appears at SNS Campaign Rally
Radoičić was seen on October 9 at an SNS campaign rally in Kragujevac, held ahead of Serbia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25, 2026.
Footage published by Serbian broadcaster N1 showed Radoičić standing near Danilo Vučić, the son of former Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, outside the venue where the rally took place.
His appearance has attracted attention because of the unresolved legal proceedings connected to the Banjska attack and his acknowledged involvement in the armed group responsible for the incident.
However, his presence at a political rally does not, by itself, establish the involvement of Serbian state institutions in the attack.
What Happened in Banjska in September 2023?
On September 24, 2023, an armed group of ethnic Serbs entered the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo and clashed with Kosovo Police. The violence resulted in the death of Kosovo police officer Afrim Bunjaku and three members of the armed group.
The incident was one of the most serious escalations in Kosovo since its declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008.
Milan Radoičić, a former senior Kosovo Serb politician and former vice-president of the Serb List party, publicly acknowledged his involvement in the armed operation. He has been identified by Kosovo prosecutors as a leading figure in the group.
In September 2024, Kosovo’s Special Prosecution announced an indictment against 45 individuals in connection with the attack. The charges included terrorism-related offences and crimes against Kosovo’s constitutional order, as well as alleged financing of terrorism and money laundering.
Reuters reported that most of the suspects were believed to be in Serbia, complicating efforts to bring them before Kosovo’s courts.
Serbia’s Investigation Remains Ongoing
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade told RFE/RL that its investigation into Radoičić in connection with the Banjska attack was still ongoing, according to reporting published on October 12.
The investigation’s continued status comes despite repeated international calls for accountability.
Serbian authorities briefly detained Radoičić in October 2023 following his admission of involvement in the armed incident, but he was subsequently released from custody. His case in Serbia has not resulted in a publicly reported indictment for the Banjska attack as of October 13, 2026.
Kosovo has pursued legal action against Radoičić and other suspects, while the fact that many of those accused are believed to remain in Serbia continues to pose a major obstacle to the proceedings.
The two sides also remain divided over Kosovo’s status. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, a dispute that complicates judicial cooperation between the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina.
Belgrade Denies State Involvement
Kosovo has accused Serbia of being behind the Banjska operation, alleging that the attack was organized and supported at state level. Belgrade has denied involvement by Serbian state institutions.
In September 2023, Vučić said Serbia would investigate the events surrounding the deadly clash while rejecting accusations that the Serbian government had been involved.
These competing positions remain central to the political dispute surrounding the case. Establishing individual criminal responsibility and determining whether state officials were involved are separate legal questions that require evidence and due process.
The EU’s latest criticism focuses on the need for Serbia to pursue the case and cooperate through established legal channels so that those accused can face justice.
EU Calls for Accountability
The European Union’s position reflects its broader concern about stability in the Western Balkans and the need for accountability following the violence in northern Kosovo.
The continued investigation in Serbia, the presence of Radoičić at a major political rally and the lack of a publicly reported Serbian indictment in the Banjska case have renewed questions about the pace of the legal process.
For the EU, the central issue is whether Serbia will take concrete steps to ensure that the case advances rather than allowing it to remain unresolved.
The outcome will also matter for relations between Kosovo and Serbia, whose normalization process remains difficult amid persistent political tensions and disputes over security and the rule of law.
The immediate challenge is to move the Banjska case forward through credible judicial proceedings and cooperation between the relevant authorities, ensuring that responsibility is established on the basis of evidence rather than political declarations.