The Serbian High Court has made the decision to release Milan Radoicic, a prominent Kosovo Serb politician who faced accusations related to the illegal manufacturing and trafficking of firearms to Kosovo. This decision came after Radoicic openly admitted his involvement in a fatal shootout with Kosovo police.
The incident that sparked this controversy unfolded on September 24, when approximately 30 armed Serbs barricaded themselves inside a Serbian Orthodox monastery near the village of Banjska, situated in the predominantly Serb northern region of Kosovo. This standoff culminated in a violent shootout, resulting in the tragic loss of three attackers and a Kosovo police officer.
The court, in an official statement, disclosed its rejection of the High Prosecutor’s Office’s request for Radoicic’s custody. However, it imposed stringent conditions on Radoicic, including a prohibition on leaving his place of residence and Serbia without explicit court approval. Additionally, he is forbidden from traveling to Kosovo.
The court order outlined further measures, stating, “He (Radoicic) is ordered to report to an appropriate police station every 1st and 15th of the month, and his … passport … was confiscated.”
Milan Radoicic, holding the position of vice president within the Serb List party, which is the largest political party in the Serb-dominated northern region of Kosovo, openly acknowledged his role in organizing and participating in the violent confrontations.
Radoicic’s detention took place in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on Tuesday. The prosecutor’s office had argued for his continued detention, expressing concerns that he might attempt to flee. Radoicic vehemently denied any involvement in criminal activities.
The gun battle that transpired last month has raised fresh international concerns about the stability of Kosovo. Kosovo, with its ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 following a guerrilla uprising and a NATO intervention in 1999. In the predominantly Serb northern areas of Kosovo, approximately 50,000 Serbs do not acknowledge the authority of Pristina’s institutions and consider Belgrade as their capital. This region has been a frequent site of clashes involving Kosovo police and international peacekeeping forces. However, the violence witnessed last month marked one of the most severe incidents in recent years.
Kosovo had previously accused Belgrade of offering financial and practical support to Radoicic and his group, allegations that Serbia vehemently denied.
