At dawn on 24 September 2023, gunfire erupted in the small village of Banjska, located in northern Kosovo. The Kosovo Police reported that “Serbian ‘little green men’ in armed vehicles had advanced 15 kilometres into Kosovo’s territory, leading to a terrorist attack on the Kosovo Police that resulted in the death of one officer and left another wounded.”
Unverified information spread rapidly, leaving residents fearful of what the rest of the day might bring and whether clashes between the Kosovo police and armed groups would continue. The citizens learned about what was happening in Banjska that day mainly through statements from Kosovo’s officials, while official Belgrade remained silent until the evening.
The Kosovo government labelled the incident a terrorist act, accusing official Belgrade of being involved in it.
Just a few hours after the gunfire was heard in Banjska, images of Milan Radoičić, then vice president of the Srpska Lista party in Kosovo and a close associate of the Serbian government, began circulating on social media, showing him in military attire.
Five days later, Radoičić claimed responsibility for the attack and resigned from his positions within Srpska Lista. “I personally managed all logistical preparations for the defense of our people against the occupiers, and my actions have no connection to my previous political involvement,” he stated through his lawyer in Belgrade.
Even now, what exactly transpired that day in Banjska remains unclear. It is known that one Kosovo police officer and three members of the armed group led by Radoičić lost their lives. However, questions linger about how the firefight began, why the armed group gathered near Banjska Monastery overnight, who ordered their gathering, and what their intentions were.
After Banjska, Belgrade and Pristina have been simulating dialogue
According to European Western Balkans interlocutors, events in Banjska permanently changed the course of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, as well as the situation on the ground in northern Kosovo.
Nexhmedin Spahiu, Professor of Political Science at AAB University in Pristina, states that Banjska had an impact on the situation on the ground, adding that it demonstrated that both sides are willing to change the situation in order to be in a better negotiation position, above all Serbia.
“After the negotiations that resulted in the Ohrid Agreement, which envisages greater autonomy for the Serbs through the Association of Serb Municipalities in exchange for implicit recognition by Belgrade via the opening of permanent diplomatic missions, it was clear that parties, especially Serbia, were not satisfied with this agreement. Nevertheless, it was accepted due to pressure from the EU and USA, but the parties are evidently not ready to implement the Ohrid agreement”, says Spahiu.
The Ohrid agreement on the path to normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo was accepted by President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti in March 2023. Subsequent meetings, however, failed to achieve agreement on its implementation.
“The events in Banjska have definitely had a negative impact on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. After Banjka, we no longer have a dialogue, but rather a kind of simulation of the dialogue. The incident has further distanced the two sides”, Miloš Pavković, a researcher at the Centre for European Policy (CEP) says for EWB.
According to him, Serbia’s negotiation position worsened further after the events in Banjska.
“Before this incident, Pristina was under pressure from the European Union and international community, but after the focus shifted to the authorities in Belgrade, due to their potential involvement in organizing the incident in Banjska”, Pavković believes.
Spahiu agrees that the pressure of the international community on Pristina has decreased after Banjska, as no one is demanding the withdrawal of the police from northern Kosovo anymore.
“On the other hand, Belgrade made another mistake by not holding a referendum to replace the Albanian mayors in the north. This led to a situation where Albin Kurti almost completely removed Serbia’s presence from the territory of Kosovo. The Serbian state remains present only in education, healthcare, and cultural heritage, which are indeed competencies of the Community of Serb Municipalities”, explains Spahiu.
Radoičić remains free
Four days after taking responsibility for the attack in Banjska, Milan Radoičić was questioned at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade. He denied the criminal charges brought against him by the Kosovo authorities.
The Belgrade court turned down the prosecution’s request to detain Radoičić, who is suspected of committing several criminal acts alongside multiple unidentified individuals. Instead of detention, he was ordered to regularly report to the local police and was forbidden from leaving Serbia.
By early December last year, Interpol issued a warrant for his arrest, while Kosovo authorities filed charges against 45 individuals in connection with the events of 24 September. The criminal charges were filed for acts of “aggravated murder, attack on the constitutional order of Kosovo, serious offences against the constitutional order and security of Kosovo, committing a terrorist act, preparing a terrorist act, money laundering, and financing terrorism.”
The Chief Public Prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, Nenad Stefanović, emphasized that, from the perspective of Serbia’s legal system, the indictment from the Special Prosecutor’s Office in Pristina against Milan Radoičić and others holds no significance.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated on 13 September 2024 that Serbian authorities are conducting their investigation, adding that the requested information from EULEX has not been provided to Belgrade. He emphasised that, for Serbia, the Banjska case “is by no means terrorism”.
European officials have also called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
“One year after Banjska/Banjskë attack, the European Union reiterates call for swift prosecution of those responsible and reaffirms its commitment to justice and accountability. It’s a reminder of the need for continued efforts to maintain security and advance with normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia”, EU Spokesperson Peter Stano posted on X today.
Kosovo: 1y after the Banjska/Banjskë attack reiterates call 4 swift prosecution of those responsible & reaffirms its commitment to justice & accountability. It’s a reminder of the need for continued efforts 2maintain security & advance w/normalisation of relations between. https://t.co/45Mi5sUbL2
— Peter Stano (@ExtSpoxEU) September 24, 2024
Miloš Pavković says that the European Union expects Serbia to prosecute those responsible, but so far, it seems to be just rhetoric.
“We haven’t seen any stronger pressures to prosecute or extradite Radoičić, even though there have been criticisms regarding his release to defend himself while free. The future relationship of the EU on this issue will depend on the new High Representative and the new Special Representative for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. We need to wait for the formation of the new institutions, and certainly, the European Union will not forget these demands it has placed before the Serbian authorities,” says Pavković.
Nexhmedin Spahiu believes that the European Union will insist on prosecuting Radoičić, but he warns that if there is increased pressure on Serbia, he may be able to escape the country.
“In the case of increased pressure, I expect Radoičić to flee Serbia, for example to Russia, while only those who have already been arrested by the Kosovo police will be held accountable for the attack in Banjska,” concludes Spahiu.