A year after a deadly attack by a Serbian armed group in Banjska, Kosovo that left one police officer dead, the trial of 45 suspects is set to begin at the Pristina Basic Court. The attack, which was later claimed to have been led and organized by Kosovo Serb businessman and politician Milan Radoicic, heightened tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. The trial is expected to be complex due to the strained relationship between the two countries.
The incident in Banjska involved a group of armed and masked Serbs ambushing a Kosovar police patrol, resulting in the death of one officer and injuries to two others. The attackers then fled to a nearby Orthodox monastery, leading to a prolonged gun battle with Kosovo police. The confiscated weapons from the attackers were found to have originated in Serbia, leading to accusations by Kosovar authorities that Serbia was behind the attack.
The suspects are facing charges of terrorism and crimes against Kosovo’s constitutional order and security. While only three suspects remain in custody in Kosovo, the others, including Radoicic, are in Serbia. Radoicic has denied involvement, however, accusations against Serbia persist.
The trial is expected to be prolonged, as most suspects are in Serbia, making extradition unlikely. Experts fear that without Serbia’s cooperation, justice may not be fully served. The trial is seen as crucial in demonstrating Kosovo’s commitment to addressing security threats and maintaining its sovereignty. It also raises concerns about the influence of hidden Serb structures in northern Kosovo and the potential for further destabilization.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com