A complete of 45 folks had been charged after dozens of gunmen attacked Kosovo police and barricaded themselves in an Orthodox monastery in September final 12 months, sparking an intense day-long firefight that left three lifeless folks.
Three Serbs have pleaded not responsible in a trial that started on Wednesday in Kosovo towards these allegedly concerned in an incursion by Serbian gunmen in September final 12 months.
During the assault, round 30 Serbian gunmen killed a Kosovar Albanian police officer earlier than barricading themselves in an Orthodox monastery in Banjska, a village close to the Serbian border with Kosovo.
The incident triggered an hours-long firefight that left three attackers lifeless in one of many worst clashes since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Belgrade of involvement within the incident, saying the incident was half of a bigger plan to annex a part of Kosovo, for which Serbia needs to be held accountable.
He additionally known as on the worldwide group to strain Belgrade at hand over the remainder of the gunmen, who retreated to Serbia after the 12-hour standoff.
Belgrade has denied the allegations, insisting that the gunmen acted on their very own initiative.
A controversial businessman charged in absentia
Among these charged in absentia is Milan Radoičić, a politician and rich businessman with ties to Serbia’s ruling populist social gathering, the SNS, and President Aleksandar Vučić.
Belgrade stated Radoičić and the paramilitary group concerned acted on their very own initiative, briefly detaining Radoičić after the taking pictures on suspicion of felony conspiracy and unlawful weapons possession.
Radoičić, who’s beneath sanctions from the United States and the United Kingdom for alleged monetary felony exercise, has denied the allegations. However, he admitted to being linked to the group concerned within the firefight.
Prosecutor Naim Abazi stated the defendants, beneath Radoičić’s command, tried to contribute to the separation of Serb-majority municipalities, particularly within the northern a part of Kosovo, and to affix Serbia correct.
Arianit Koci, a lawyer representing the household of slain Kosovar officer Afrim Bunjaku, stated she anticipated the three defendants to be convicted on the premise of “irrefutable proof”.
Both EU and US officers have known as on Belgrade to assist carry perpetrators to justice, calling on each international locations to implement agreements reached in February and March final 12 months to keep up peace.
These embody Kosovo’s dedication to establishing a group of Serb municipalities in Serb-majority areas, notably within the north of the nation, in addition to Serbia’s de facto recognition of its former province.
The trial befell on the Pristina District Court beneath tight safety, with the three defendants accused of violating the constitutional and authorized order, terrorist actions, terrorist financing and cash laundering.
If convicted, the gunmen face a most sentence of life in jail.
