The first hearing in the Banjska attack case against Vladimir Tollič, Blagoje Spasojević and Dušan Maksimović began at the Basic Court in Pristina on April 17.
The three defendants were arrested following the attack in Banjska, Zvecan, in September 2023, when an armed group of Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police and killed police officer Afrim Bunjaku. In the ensuing shootout, three more attackers were killed.
In September 2024, the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office filed indictments against 45 individuals for terrorism, terrorist financing, and serious criminal offenses, most of whom – including Milan Radoicic, who claimed responsibility for the attack in Banjska – are at large.
Kosovo authorities describe the attack in Banjska as a terrorist act and accuse Serbia of being behind it.
What did the three accused say?
According to the indictment filed by the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office, one of the three defendants in custody in Kosovo has been protected by silence.
Another stated at the Mitrovica Police Station on September 24, 2023, that the day before he had gone to Raška, where he met with three people (also accused), with whom, in an organized manner in several vehicles, they went to Banjska, where they were given uniforms and weapons.
He was told that "there would be a truck barricade and a protest, which he thought was peaceful."
"But, after receiving the military-tactical uniform and weapons, he realized that something was wrong, but that he was forced to obey orders," the indictment states.
According to the indictment, he said that he stayed in a car during the night and then near a waterfall and in the mountains, and that he "never fired a gun."
Later, he was handed over to the Kosovo Police.
He also stated that about ten Jeep-type vehicles without license plates came from Serbia with about 50 people, most of whom he said he did not recognize.
"He also stated that there was no pressure or threat to participate in this group and that he voluntarily became part of it..."
On October 9 last year, in the preparatory session, the prosecution requested that the trial also begin for the defendants who are not in Kosovo, but the defense lawyers emphasized that such a thing is not allowed by Kosovo laws.
Judge Arben Hoti requested a legal opinion from the Supreme Court on the interpretation of the law, which found that this issue is a "discretionary right" of the judge.
Such a decision has not yet been made.
Otherwise, in the preparatory session of October 9, 2024, the two defendants, Vladimir Tolic and Blagoje Spasojevic, refused to plead guilty at this stage of the process, while Dusan Maksimovic pleaded not guilty.
Milan Radoicic, former deputy leader of the Serbian List – the largest Serb party in Kosovo that has the support of official Belgrade – claimed responsibility for the armed attack in Banjska. He and most of the members of the armed group are believed to be at large in Serbia.
What does the indictment contain?
The Kosovo Special Prosecution Office, among other things, charges the defendants in the Banjska case with terrorist acts and acts against the constitutional order and security of Kosovo.
The prosecutor in the case, Naim Abazi, previously stated that the defendants had various roles within the criminal group, "from organizing and directing terrorist activities, to financing and laundering money."
Who are the defendants?
The indictment names 45 people:
Milan Radoicic, Blagoje Spasojevic, Vladimir Tolic, Dusan Maksimovic, Vladimir Radivojevic, Uglesa Jaredic, Milorad Jevtic, Vlastimir Andric, Aleksandar Milosavljevic, Lazar Smigic, Velko Djordjevic, Vladimir Vucetic, Stefan Jovanovic, Milovan Krstovic, Uros Milic, Trajko Vasic, Danilo Vasic, Vukasin Jaredic, Sasha Peric, Nemanja Stankovic, Momcilo Vuckovic, Stefan Radojkovic, Marjan Radojevic, Marko Arsic, Zarko Cvetkovic, Krsto Damjanovic, Stefan Milosavljevic, Marko Savic, Aleksandar Jevremovic, Rados Gvozdic, Ivan Milic, Gojko Zubac, Nemanja Radivojevic, Radak Adzic, Milos Millenkovic, Gjorge Ballovic, Danijel Djukic, Danilo Virijevic, Aleksandar Tanasković, Milosh Kragović, Milan Nedelković, Nikolla Illić, Vladan Illić, RAD DOO and Radulle Steviq.
The indictment states that this group, through the use of violence with heavy weapons, attempted to "separate the northern part of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, namely the municipalities inhabited by a Serb majority, and to annex this part of the territory to the Republic of Serbia."
Milan Radoićić has been identified as the leader of this group, who is said to have played an important role in coordinating the attack and criminal activities.
Radoicic is blacklisted by the United States and the United Kingdom for links to international organized crime and corruption.
In Kosovo, he is also linked to the murder of a Serbian opposition politician, as well as the intimidation of witnesses in a trial over several illegal constructions.
In the indictment, the Prosecution cites 34 files of evidence, including video recordings, analyses of electronic devices, various responses from Luxembourg, Bosnia and Herzegovina, banks and various institutions, witness statements, etc.
Kosovo authorities describe the attack in Banjska as a terrorist act and accuse Serbia of being behind it.
On the other hand, Serbia has denied any involvement in the attack in Banjska, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has emphasized that for Belgrade this attack is not terrorist, but that it is being investigated.
The international community has strongly condemned the attack in Banjska and has demanded that those responsible be brought to justice./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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