Strong criticism from Pristina after Radoičić’s unimpeded appearance at Vučić’s rally

The presence of Milan Radoičić at a rally of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Kragujevac has been described by the Kosovo Government as further evidence of the Serbian state’s direct involvement in the armed attack that took place in Banjska, Zvečan, on September 24, 2023.

In a statement to Radio Free Europe, the Kosovo executive said footage broadcast by Serbian media proves that the attack, in which a Kosovo police officer was killed, was “planned, financed and organized by the state of Serbia.”

Radoičić, who previously served as deputy leader of the Serb List, has assumed responsibility for organizing the attack in Banjska. Kosovo authorities are seeking him, while the United States and the United Kingdom have sanctioned him for links to international organized crime.

Footage published by Serbian television station N1 shows Radoičić on October 9 in Kragujevac, near Danilo Vučić, the son of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, during an SNS gathering.

According to the Kosovo Government, the footage “should be an alarm for the EU and other Western countries,” underscoring the fact that Serbia is not handing Radoičić over to face justice in Kosovo.

“Milan Radoičić is not only not being handed over to our authorities by the state of Serbia to be held accountable before our justice system; not only is he not being pursued by the state there, but he is even accompanied and protected by the president’s son there,” the Government said in its reaction.

Other senior institutional figures in Kosovo have also expressed concern. Albulena Haxhiu, the speaker of parliament, called on the international community to provide a clear response and exert tangible pressure on Serbia over its failure to hand over Radoičić.

She pointed out that his presence at a rally of Serbia’s governing party raises serious questions about the political responsibility of the authorities in Belgrade and the protection he allegedly enjoys in government circles.

Haxhiu also called for the demand to hand over Radoičić and other individuals wanted over the attack in Banjska to be followed by concrete measures and consequences for Serbia if it refuses to cooperate.

Meanwhile, Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca also reacted to Radoičić’s appearance, linking it to a statement by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dačić that “sooner or later the Serbian flag will fly in Prizren.”

Konjufca stressed that these developments are not isolated provocations and called on the international community to hold Serbia accountable.

“The international community must unequivocally condemn these actions and demand accountability. The sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo is not negotiable, nor is justice for the terrorist attack in Banjska,” he wrote on the X platform.

Kosovo has repeatedly asked Serbia to hand over Radoičić to face justice in connection with the attack in Banjska, but he continues to remain free on Serbian territory.