An investigation has found that the company “Rad 028,” owned by Radule Stević, has secured public contracts worth millions of euros from Serbian institutions, even though its owner is accused by Kosovo authorities of involvement in the armed attack in Banjska and of money laundering.
According to the documents reviewed, the company continued to benefit from state tenders even after the Banjska attack. New contracts worth more than one million euros were signed this year alone, while for some projects doubts have been raised over whether the work was carried out in the manner presented in the official documentation.
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Stević and his company have also been under United States sanctions for years due to suspected ties to organized crime and to Milan Radoičić.
Meanwhile, Kosovo authorities charge him with money laundering and helping conceal assets linked to the Banjska case.
The article underlines that Serbian institutions have not provided full explanations as to why the company has continued to win public contracts, despite the accusations and international sanctions against its owner. This situation has raised questions about transparency and accountability in public procurement procedures.
In the end, the investigation stresses that the company continues to receive state funds while its owner remains under serious charges in Kosovo.
The case has raised concerns over how companies and individuals involved in the Banjska case are being treated, as well as over the use of public money in Serbia.
Halili: This case could undermine the trust of international partners in Serbian institutions
Professor Nijazi Halili spoke to “Bota sot” about the issue.
He believes that politically, if these findings are confirmed, financing companies linked to Milan Radoičić could demonstrate a lack of institutional will and trigger political, legal and security concerns.
“If the findings published by Radio Free Europe are confirmed, according to which companies linked to Milan Radoičić continued to benefit from public contracts from Serbian state institutions even after the indictment was filed by the authorities of the Republic of Kosovo, then this issue goes beyond the boundaries of an ordinary public procurement problem and turns into a serious political, legal and regional security challenge.
From the perspective of international relations and the process of European integration, such a practice may be interpreted as a lack of institutional will to distance itself from individuals or structures connected to serious criminal activity and to acts that undermine stability and security in the region. If state institutions continue to finance business entities linked to persons accused of serious criminal offenses, the perception is created that there is institutional tolerance toward networks of political and economic influence, which may be intertwined with forms of organized crime,” he said.
Furthermore, the professor stresses that if these allegations are proven, they could damage Serbia’s path toward the European Union and weaken the trust of international partners in Serbian institutions in the fight against organized crime.
“Such a situation could produce direct consequences for relations between Serbia and the European Union. One of the fundamental conditions of the process of accession to the European Union is strengthening the rule of law, guaranteeing the independence of institutions, effectively combating corruption and organized crime, as well as respecting standards of transparency and accountability in public procurement. Any suspicion of favoritism toward companies linked to individuals accused of events that have produced serious consequences for regional security may negatively affect the assessment European institutions make of Serbia’s progress in meeting these criteria.
At the same time, this case may undermine the trust of international partners in Serbian institutions within the framework of police and judicial cooperation to combat organized crime. International cooperation in this field is based on the principle of mutual trust between institutions. If the impression is created that public funds may be used, directly or indirectly, to support entities linked to persons accused of serious criminal offenses, then this trust risks fading, affecting also the quality and intensity of cooperation with European and international partners,” the professor emphasized.
According to the professor, this case could also damage Serbia’s international image. He underlines that although the presumption of innocence must be respected, public institutions have an obligation to act with transparency, integrity and responsibility in the administration of state funds.
“From a political standpoint, this case may serve as an additional argument in international discussions about the need for more rigorous monitoring of the implementation of rule of law standards in Serbia. Moreover, it may affect the perception of international partners regarding the seriousness of the Serbian state’s commitment in the fight against organized crime and in fulfilling the obligations arising from the process of European integration.
Ultimately, it is important to stress that the presumption of innocence remains one of the fundamental principles of law and must be respected in every case. However, equally fundamental is the obligation of public institutions that, in the administration of state funds, they act with the highest standards of transparency, integrity and institutional responsibility. Only such an approach can strengthen the trust of citizens and international partners in the rule of law, in the functioning of democratic institutions and in the credibility of the state,” Halili concluded for “Bota sot.”
Bajraktari: Radoičić’s ties with the Serbian authorities, these investigations only make those relations even more visible
On the legal side of the issue, lawyer Ardian Bajraktari also spoke to “Bota sot,” saying that this investigation reinforces suspicions about Milan Radoičić’s ties to the Serbian authorities and supports claims that the Serbian state had a role in the Banjska attack.
“Radoičić’s ties with the Serbian authorities, and specifically with President Vučić, are evident. These investigations only make these relations even more visible, which naturally only strengthens the theses that behind the terrorist attack in Banjska stands the Serbian state and Vučić’s policy,” the lawyer stressed.
He added that this case should serve as additional evidence for the international community to increase pressure on Serbia to bring Milan Radoičić and the other accused before justice in Kosovo.
“Therefore, above all, this should be additional evidence for the international community in general and the EU in particular to hold the Serbian state accountable by compelling it to bring Radoičić and the others before Kosovo’s justice institutions to face the charges,” Bajraktari concluded for “Bota sot.”
