European Union urges Serbia to take necessary actions to ensure that those responsible for the deadly attack on the Kosova Police in Banjska are held accountable.

On September 24, 2022, a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosova Police in the village of Banjska, Zveçan, resulting in the death of Officer Afrim Bunjaku. Three Serbian attackers were also killed during the following responsive reactions.

Kosova has characterized the incident as a terrorist attack and accuses involvement of Serbia, which Serbia denies.

Earlier this month, Kosova’s Special Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against 45 individuals in connection with the attack. Milan Radoicic, former vice chairman of the Serbian List, the largest party representing Serbs in Kosova and backed by Belgrade, was identified as the “leader of the terrorist group” in the indictment.

When asked by Radio Free Europe whether Serbia should cooperate with Kosovz in the judicial processes to follow, EU spokesperson Peter Stano affirmed, “Yes, this is what we have continuously emphasized for cases where the suspected perpetrators are in Kosova.”

Serbian authorities have refused to extradite Radoicic back to Kosova, insisting that he will be ‘tried’ in “Serbian courts”.

Stano also highlighted that Serbia must take further action regarding suspects involved in attacks on KFOR soldiers, media, and citizens during the unrest in May 2023.

“The EU has repeatedly expressed expectations that Serbia must fully cooperate and take all necessary measures to apprehend and swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of violent acts by Serbian protesters against citizens, KFOR members, law enforcement, and media on May 29, 2023. This applies to the violent attacks on September 24, 2023, in northern Kosova,” Stano stated.

In June, several journalists were physically attacked while reporting from Leposavic, one of four northern municipalities of Serbian majority in farthest north of Kosova, according to Kosova Police.

Tensions in north of the country escalated on May 26 when newly elected Albanian mayors, assisted by Kosova Police, took office in municipal buildings.

The situation peaked on May 29, when Serbian protesters clashed with KFOR members in Zveçan, injuring around 100 soldiers from the peacekeeping mission.

/a.p./