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EU to N1 on Banjska anniversary: We are concerned by participation of offenders during demonstrations, we expect Serbia to prosecute them
“We expect the authorities in Serbia to apprehend and prosecute” those responsible for perpetrating the attack in Banjska, and “we remain concerned by reports of the participation of alleged offenders of the Banjska attack during demonstrations,” a spokesperson for the European Union (EU) told N1.
“Two years ago, the attack in Banjska on 24 September 2023 by armed Kosovo Serb assailants against Kosovo police seriously threatened the security in the region. The hideous attack on that day left one police officer dead and two injured… We expect the authorities in Serbia to apprehend and prosecute those found in Serbia, with appropriate charges, in front of a Court in Serbia,” the EU spokesperson said in response to N1’s inquiry.
The EU also said it was concerned by “reports of the participation of alleged offenders of the Banjska attacks during demonstrations.”
Individuals named in the indictment, whom the Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office identified as perpetrators of the attack on the Kosovo police and who are sought by Kosovo authorities, were seen at a protest that was cordoned off by police in the center of Belgrade – in Cacilend (a pro-regime tent camp in downtown Belgrade). Using facial recognition tools, RFE was able to identify Vladimir Vucetic, from North Mitrovica, as being among the group. Vucetic is one of the 45 people named in the Kosovo prosecutor’s indictment.
Also, Milan Radoicic, former deputy leader of the Serb List party, a man on Interpol’s wanted list, and a person responsible for the Banjska attack, has made threats to Kosjeric residents who support students.
In addition, the EU spokesperson said, in October 2023, the EU Special Representative in Kosovo transmitted a request for mutual legal assistance from the Kosovo authorities to the Serbian authorities on the same matter. No response has been received yet by the Serbian authorities, the EU told N1.
“We expect Serbia to fully cooperate on those requests through the established mutual legal assistance channel. The HR/VP has personally raised the issue with President Vucic. She will continue to raise it further in the margins of her meeting with the Western Balkans leaders in New York,” the EU spokesperson said.
September 24 marks the second anniversary of the armed incident in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo and Metohija, in which a Kosovo police officer was killed in an attack by a group of uniformed Serbs, after which three Serbs were also killed in an exchange of fire. The incident took place when a Kosovo police patrol encountered two trucks blocking a bridge in Banjska.
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