Everything that happened today - the sentencing of the "Banjska" terrorists, the reaction of the Bunjaku family and the expectations of the institutions

The Basic Court has sentenced two of the first three defendants in the terrorist attack in Banjska to life imprisonment. The third was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The presiding judge said that they intended to secede from the northern part of Kosovo, with the aim of annexing the territory to Serbia.

Two of the three first defendants in the terrorist attack in Banjska, Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Dusan Maksimovic was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The presiding judge, Ngadhnjim Arrni, read the verdict for the three Serbs who participated in the September 2023 attack, which killed police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku.

"The accused Blagoje Spasojevic is sentenced to life imprisonment, the accused Vladimir Tolic is sentenced to life imprisonment, and the accused Dusan Maksimovic is sentenced to 30 years in prison," said Arrni.

Only Maksimović of the defendants was present in the courtroom during the announcement of the verdict.

Judge Arrni said that the defendants, along with other participants in the group, in various roles, entered the territory of Kosovo from Serbia in an organized manner.

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"With dozens of armored vehicles filled with heavy weapons, ammunition, explosives, camouflaged military uniforms, they initially blocked the roads with two trucks, then hid and took up their positions, and after police officers of the Republic of Kosovo arrived to remove the trucks and clear the road, at that moment they attacked them with heavy weapons, where Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed at the village bridge," declared the presiding judge.

Also present in the courtroom were police officers Alban Rashiti and Çlirim Shaqiri, who were injured during the attack.

Judge Arrni said that members of the terrorist group aimed to annex the north.

"All of this was done with the aim of destabilizing and destroying the fundamental structures of the Republic of Kosovo and attempting to secede the northern part of the territory and unite it with Serbia," Arrni said.

The decision of the Constitutional Court was welcomed by the special prosecutor, Naim Abazi. He said that efforts to bring to justice the more than 40 other defendants who are still at large will continue through international mechanisms.

"All those who ordered, financed and coordinated this attack, the attack of September 24, 2023, will be held accountable before the justice system," Abazi said.

The decision of the Constitutional Court was also welcomed by Arianit Koci, the lawyer for the family of the hero Afrim Bunjaku.

"Of course, I am satisfied with the court's decision, but I am even more satisfied that we have provided the defendants with all procedural rights as a system and in the end they have now received the punishment that Afrim Bunjaku's family had anticipated," said Koci.

During the trial, all three convicts denied the charges.

Milan Radoićić, former deputy leader of the Serbian List, has claimed responsibility for the armed attack. He did so after the police documented his presence in the attack through drone footage.

Afrim Bunjaku's family unhappy with Maksimović's 30-year prison sentence

In anguish and with tearful eyes, family members of the hero Afrim Bunjaku, who was killed in Banjska, awaited the announcement of the verdict for the largest terrorist attack the country has experienced since the post-war period.

The son of the uncle of the murdered police sergeant welcomed the verdict of the court for the two defendants who were sentenced to life imprisonment. But Arton Bunjaku said the family feels insulted that the third defendant, Dusan Maskimović, did not receive the same sentence.

"I can say from here that we feel insulted and disappointed, because it would be right for everyone to receive the maximum sentence of life imprisonment, not just 30 years. So, from here I call for an appeal to be prepared as soon as possible towards the panel that judged the case," he said.

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In addition to the sentence that is not satisfactory for the family, the son of the uncle of the Kosovo martyr demanded full justice and the commitment of the international community to shed light on the entire case of the 2023 terrorist attack.

"... I ask the Republic of Kosovo and international authorities to bring the rest to justice as soon as possible and not just with 30 years, but with a maximum sentence of life. This is a blow to the people of Kosovo, to the Bunjaku family and all those who are heroes who have constantly defended the homeland, the Republic of Kosovo," declared Afrim Bunjaku's uncle's son.

Bunjak's other family members, who did not want to speak in front of the cameras due to strong emotions, expressed dissatisfaction that the leader of the terrorist attack, Milan Radoićić, has not been brought to justice.

Radoicic is currently hiding in Serbia, where, according to the indictment of the Special Prosecution, the Banjska attackers received weapons training and were also equipped with heavy weapons and explosives.

Unlike the other two defendants, Dushan Maskimovic was not caught with a firearm, but the Special Prosecution alleges that he had an organizational role based on the messages he allegedly sent.

He is also suspected of setting up barricades in the north in 2022, in which case the head of the Serbian List parliamentary group, Slavko Simić, is also suspected. Both are suspected of the criminal offenses of obstructing an official in the performance of official duties, calling for resistance, and joining in unconstitutional activities.

Authorities expect Serbia to be held accountable for role in Banjska attack

Applause accompanied by whistling erupted in the Parliament from both the ruling and opposition MPs, when during the plenary session, Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu announced the Court's decision, by which two accused of the terrorist attack in Banjska were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the other was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Haxhiu said that full justice will only be served after all those responsible are brought to justice.

After this announcement, the deputies of the Serbian List, a party whose vice-chairman was Milan Radoić, who took responsibility for the attack, left the hall.

And, Albanian and non-Serb lawmakers also paid tribute to Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, who was killed in this attack.

Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, said that the sentence does not bring back the hero Afrim Bunjaku, but is a step towards justice for his sacrifice and for the pain that remains with his family, colleagues and all our citizens. He said that the verdict also confirms Serbia's responsibility in the attack.

"On that day, the Republic of Kosovo not only faced terrorism, but stopped a dangerous scenario for division. This is proven by the facts and evidence that document the direct involvement of Serbia. Today it is clear: the criminal and paramilitary structures in the north have been dismantled. The constitutional order has been protected. Now it remains for Serbia to be held accountable for its political, financial and logistical role in this aggression," said Sveçla.

And the Director of the Police, Gazmend Hoxha, has said that the institution he leads will work to bring all those responsible to justice, but has also stressed the need for international pressure on Serbia to hand over all suspects who have arrest warrants.

also Arberi 3 months ago Life imprisonment for the two "Banjska" terrorists, 30 years for the third

"This is just a first step, and a lot of work remains, but in this case, great pressure is needed from the international community and, I believe, from our institutions, so that until they surrender, we do not stop relentlessly demanding that they be held accountable before our justice institutions," Hoxha declared.

In addition to the 3 convicted in the first instance, authorities have arrested a Serb this month, as a suspect for involvement in the attack in Banjska. And, in September 2024, the prosecution filed an indictment against 45 people, led by Milan Radoicic.