Kelmendi: We have two years to file charges for the Banjska attack

(Patria) - Acting Chief State Prosecutor of Kosovo Besim Kelmendi stated that the indictment for the armed attack in Banjska has not been filed because, as he stated, according to the law, the deadline for filing it is two years, with the possibility of extension for another year.

- The legal deadline for filing an indictment is two years, with the possibility of extension in complicated cases for another year, but this requires a court - Kelmendi told the Pristina agency Kosovapress.com.

An armed group from Serbia, led by Milan Radoičić, attacked the Kosovo police on September 24, 2023, in Banjska and killed Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku.

The Kosovo police responded to the attack by liquidating three members of the armed group. Radoičić fled to Serbia and admitted to being behind the attack.

More than eight months have passed since the attack in Banjska, but there is still no indictment. Heads of state institutions and analysts have criticized the State Prosecutor's Office for not filing charges.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti criticized the Prosecutor's Office at a press conference in December 2023, along with Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla.

He said that despite the facts provided by security institutions, the Prosecutor's Office has not filed any indictment for the Banjska attack.

- There were a series of facts, enough evidence to file an indictment, this was a year of criminal attacks, there are discrepancies between the information, the facts, and the indictments on the other side.

The Government cannot fill this gap, it is up to the Prosecutor's Office, I am here to help, and they are here to work - added Kurti.

The European Parliament on October 19, 2023, strongly condemned the attack on the police in Banjska on September 24, calling it a terrorist attack and demanding accountability from Serbia.