Fehlinger calls for Radoičić’s immediate surrender and warns the EU after Vučić came to his defense

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Monday that Milan Radoičić, who has admitted responsibility for the armed attack on the Kosovo Police in Banjska, Zvečan, in September 2023 and for whom an Interpol red notice has been issued, is not facing criminal prosecution for any criminal offense.

During a press conference, Vučić said: “You did not say why Milan Radoičić is on a red notice. It is not because of crime, but because of Kosovo,”.

These statements have increased doubts about Serbia’s willingness to cooperate with international justice and ensure accountability for the attack in Banjska. At the same time, they have also raised questions over whether the international community should increase pressure on Belgrade to hand Milan Radoičić over to justice.

Regarding this development, in a statement for “Bota sot,” Austrian expert Gunther Fehlinger described Vučić’s remarks defending Radoičić as troubling and alarming.

According to him, what happened in Banjska cannot be presented as a political misunderstanding, but was a terrorist act.

“President Vučić’s latest statement regarding Milan Radoičić is deeply troubling and should be a serious alarm for the international community.

The Banjska attack of September 2023 was not a political misunderstanding. It was a terrorist attack carried out by a heavily armed paramilitary group that resulted in the killing of Kosovo Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku and threatened peace and stability across the entire Western Balkans. Milan Radoičić publicly admitted responsibility for organizing the group involved.

Instead of supporting an independent judicial process, President Vučić now claims that Radoičić is wanted “not because of crime, but because of Kosovo.” Such a statement is incompatible with the principles of the rule of law. No democratic leader should publicly or politically defend a man who has admitted organizing an armed attack. If he is guilty of specific criminal offenses, it is for the court to decide, but he must first stand trial,” the Austrian expert said.

Fehlinger called for Radoičić to be handed over without delay to face Kosovo’s justice system. He said that if Serbia considers him innocent, then it should present its evidence and arguments before the competent courts.

According to him, this issue should also serve as a clear signal to the international community, because without a change in this approach Serbia cannot seriously claim membership in the European Union.

“Milan Radoičić must be handed over to Kosovo’s justice system without delay. If Serbia believes he is innocent, it should present its arguments before the competent courts instead of refusing judicial cooperation. Justice cannot function if political leaders decide who is above the law. Yes, I believe this should be a clear warning for the European Union, NATO, the United States and all democratic partners. Serbia cannot seriously claim that it seeks EU membership while refusing full accountability for the most serious terrorist attack in the region in years. Cooperation with Kosovo’s judicial authorities and respect for international law must become an essential condition for Serbia’s further European integration,” Fehlinger stressed.

He further commented on Vučić’s signals about resignation, saying that the Serbian president may be preparing a political move similar to the Russian model, in which he leaves the presidency only to return as prime minister.

Fehlinger said the international community should not fall victim to such political maneuvers and that pressure on the government in Belgrade should be increased.

“Vučić’s latest warnings also reinforce concerns that he is preparing a Russian-style political reshuffle — leaving the presidency only to return as prime minister, while continuing to wield the same power behind the scenes. Europe has seen this model before under Vladimir Putin. It does not represent democratic change; it is simply a mechanism for preserving personal power.

The international community must reject any attempt to present such a maneuver as political renewal. Serbia does not need a different office-holder with the same ruler behind the curtain. Serbia needs a genuine democratic transition based on free and fair elections, an independent judiciary, a free media, accountability and respect for the rule of law.

The European People’s Party should also seriously reconsider its relationship with the SNS. A party whose leadership publicly undermines judicial accountability and appears to defend a man who has admitted organizing an armed attack is moving away from European values, not toward them,” Fehlinger stressed.

In conclusion, he repeated that Milan Radoičić must be handed over to Kosovo’s justice system and that Aleksandar Vučić should leave power as soon as possible.

“Serbia is far greater than a single politician. The Serbian people deserve democracy, justice and a European future — not the permanent rule of one man maintained through constitutional tricks and political patronage.

My message is therefore clear: Milan Radoičić must be handed over to Kosovo’s justice system. There must be no Russian-style escape route of any kind to keep Aleksandar Vučić in power. Serbia deserves a genuine democratic transition and Aleksandar Vučić must fully withdraw from politics, allowing a new generation of democratic leadership to lead Serbia toward Europe,” Gunther Fehlinger concluded for “Bota sot”.