The indictment of Milan Radoiçiq for war crimes against 20 people in Gjakova has reignited debate not only about his past, but also about the relationships he maintained with institutions and political figures in Kosovo.

Although he is accused of serious crimes and was known for his role within the structures of the Serbian List, Radoiçiq was long considered one of the most influential figures in political developments in the north and in relations between Kosovo parties and Serbian representatives.

Governments led by the PDK, LDK and AAK previously cooperated with the Serbian List at a time when Radoiçiq was seen as one of the party’s most powerful figures. This has raised questions about the consequences such cooperation may have had for Kosovo’s institutional and national security.

Another issue that remains to be clarified is whether the networks and influence built by Radoiçiq continue to pose a threat to Kosovo, even after his withdrawal from the public political scene.

The question is whether Kosovo was exposed to a security risk because of political cooperation with a person who now faces war crimes charges.

Former fighter calls for a full investigation into all those suspected of war crimes and for any political cooperation with Milan Radoiçiq to be uncovered

Saim Tahiraj welcomed the filing of the indictment against Milan Radoiçiq, but called for the judicial process not to end with the investigation of just one person.

“A person suspected of serious crimes against Albanians belongs before the courts and, if guilt is proven, the punishment must be appropriate,” Tahiraj told “Bota sot.”

According to him, the investigation should also include every other person who may have committed or supported crimes against Albanians, and responsibility should not be limited to Radoiçiq alone.

“Justice must not stop with Radoiçiq. Everyone who committed crimes against the Albanian people must face justice, regardless of where they are, what position they held or who stood behind them,” he said.

Tahiraj also called for the investigations to include the structures that may have been behind the crimes committed during the war in Kosovo. He stressed that if the courts and investigative bodies establish the involvement or support of Serbian state structures, that responsibility must also be pursued without compromise.

“If the investigations and courts establish the involvement or support of Serbian state structures in the crimes committed in Kosovo, then that responsibility must also be addressed fully and without any compromise,” Tahiraj said.

Referring to possible links between Kosovo politicians and people suspected of war crimes, he called for any potential cooperation to be investigated and for no one to be shielded by politics.

“If the investigations uncover evidence that any politician, regardless of their political party, cooperated with Radoiçiq or with structures linked to him, then there must be no political shield. Whoever he or she may be must answer before the courts,” he said.

Tahiraj said that different standards cannot be applied to war crimes and responsibility toward the victims.

“There cannot be double standards: on the one hand, we speak about the victims of the war and the sacrifice of the Albanian people, while on the other, we turn a blind eye to possible cooperation with people suspected of crimes against those same people,” he said.

According to him, if it is established that political power was unlawfully used to cooperate with people suspected of war crimes, such an act would constitute a serious breach of the public’s trust.

“Therefore, let the investigations and the justice system speak through evidence. No one should be convicted solely on the basis of political accusations, but no one should be protected when the justice system produces evidence and final rulings,” Tahiraj said.

He called for the judicial process to bring to light every possible link, instance of cooperation and responsibility.

“I expect this process to uncover all possible links, cooperation and responsibilities. War crimes have no political statute of limitations. The victims demand justice, and justice must be the same for everyone,” Tahiraj concluded.

Bexheti says Radoiçiq’s influence on Kosovo politics should not be treated simply as a matter of the past

Nexhat Bexheti described the indictment of Milan Radoiçiq as a belated act of justice. He claimed that accusations had also been made against Radoiçiq years earlier but, according to him, they were not pursued.

“The indictment against Radoiçiq is overdue, as there were accusations against him several years ago as well, but they were not pursued. I suspect that the Haradinaj government swept them under the rug,” Bexheti told “Bota sot.”

Bexheti said the institutions’ failure to act had allowed Radoiçiq to behave as though he were untouchable and to wield considerable influence in northern Kosovo.

“This enabled Radoiçiq to behave with impunity and disregard Kosovo’s laws, to the point that he felt like the ‘father’ of the Serbian citizens of northern Kosovo,” he said.

He also mentioned statements by Rada Trajkoviq, a former Serbian member of the Kosovo Assembly, who had previously spoken about the influence that Radoiçiq, according to her, exerted over Serbian political and institutional structures in northern Kosovo.

“Some Serbian politicians were also unhappy with Radoiçiq because they were under his political pressure. Rada Trajkoviq stated that former mayors of Serbian-majority cities in Kosovo had complained to her that Radoiçiq was the one making all the decisions,” Bexheti said.

According to the claims Bexheti attributed to Trajkoviq, Radoiçiq used an unofficial office in a restaurant in North Mitrovica, from which he issued orders and influenced the selection of Serbian ministers, police chiefs and Serbian judges in Kosovo.

“Trajkoviq stated that Radoiçiq selected the names of future Serbian ministers in Kosovo, police chiefs in the north and Serbian judges. These statements show that his political influence was not insignificant,” Bexheti said.

He stressed that Radoiçiq’s relationships with Kosovo politicians were not limited to Ramush Haradinaj. According to Bexheti, he also had contacts with former Kosovo president Behgjet Pacolli, particularly in business.

“In addition to his relationships with people in power, Radoiçiq also had ties with former Kosovo president Behgjet Pacolli. According to published information, their cooperation also extended to the business sphere,” he said.

Bexheti referred to a photograph published by KRIK in October 2019 showing Behgjet Pacolli, Milan Radoiçiq, Goran Rakiq and others. According to him, the photograph was connected to a meeting held in 2017, when the AKR was part of the governing coalition led by Ramush Haradinaj.

“In October 2019, KRIK published a photograph showing Behgjet Pacolli at a meeting with Milan Radoiçiq, Goran Rakiq and others. According to KRIK, the meeting took place in the summer of 2017,” Bexheti said.

According to him, this information should provide institutions with a basis for a broader investigation into the influence that Radoiçiq and people linked to him may have exerted over Kosovo’s politics and institutions.

“Such accounts give us a clear picture that Radoiçiq may still have influence in Kosovo, while his associates may remain active in worsening the political situation. The negative effects of this can still be seen today,” Bexheti said.

Bexheti believes the threat is still present and called for stronger action by the security institutions.

“The threat is evident. The Kosovo Police must track down and identify those who are secretly acting to the detriment of Kosovo’s citizens,” Bexheti said.

In conclusion, he called for the investigations to include those who cooperated with Radoiçiq, also mentioning former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj in this context.

“Radoiçiq’s harmful role should serve as the starting point for investigating the people who cooperated with him. If there is evidence of unlawful cooperation, it must be investigated to identify other associates who may be acting covertly to harm Kosovo and compromise it in the international arena,” Bexheti concluded.

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