Authorities in Kosovo have issued a fifth arrest warrant for Milan Radoičić, a former deputy leader of the Serb List party, this time in connection with the erection of barricades in four Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo during 2022.
The new warrant relates to two separate incidents in 2022: the first on July 31, in response to the Kosovo government’s decision to introduce entry-exit documents for Serbian citizens, and the second on December 10, following the arrest of ex-police officer Dejan Pantić, accused of attacking the Central Election Commission premises. The barricades were later removed after interventions by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and legal decisions.
At the time, Radoičić was serving as vice president of the Serb List, Kosovo’s main Serb political party backed by Belgrade. Despite an active warrant against him since February 2022 related to witness intimidation in the Brezovica corruption case, the party confirmed his presence at the July 2022 barricades.
In December 2023, Radoičić took responsibility for an armed attack in Banjska, northern Kosovo, which left one Kosovo police officer and three Serbian attackers dead. He subsequently resigned from his party post. Although Kosovo authorities are prosecuting three individuals over the Banjska attack, more than 40 suspects, including Radoičić, remain at large—believed to be residing in Serbia.
In April 2025, a fourth warrant was issued against Radoičić, this time over allegations of war crimes against civilians in the Đakovica region. His first arrest warrant was issued in 2019 over suspected involvement in the assassination of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanović, but was withdrawn in March 2021 without official explanation.
Limited Enforcement Without Serbia’s Cooperation
Radoičić’s case underscores the challenges of cross-border law enforcement. Kosovo is not a member of Interpol, so its international warrants are issued through the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence, does not act on these warrants.
Ehat Miftaraj from Kosovo’s Institute of Justice told RFE/RL that Kosovo prosecutors are legally obliged to issue warrants but acknowledged that arresting Radoičić without Serbia’s cooperation is nearly impossible.
“Still, the warrants restrict his ability to travel abroad or to countries that might comply with the request,” Miftaraj said.
Serbian lawyer Božo Prelević argued that placing barricades is not a criminal offense in Serbia and doubted that Kosovo law would treat it differently. He also questioned whether prosecutions of this nature foster reconciliation.
Multiple Failed Arrest Attempts
Kosovo authorities have tried unsuccessfully to apprehend Radoičić on several occasions. In November 2018, a failed raid linked him to the Ivanović assassination case. When that warrant was lifted in 2021, Radoičić reportedly moved freely in northern Kosovo.
In February 2022, police attempted to arrest him again over the Brezovica case at the Brnjak border crossing. According to police, he fled back to Serbian territory after being asked to step out of his vehicle.
In July 2022, Radoičić appeared in a video message from near Leposavić, declaring, “I’m back, and you know what that means. From here, there’s no going back. Long live Serbia.”
Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla later stated that Radoičić had entered the country illegally just to record the video.
Miftaraj reiterated the need for judicial independence and called on political figures to refrain from commenting on ongoing cases.
Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that around 50 individuals are under investigation for obstructing official duties and inciting unconstitutional actions in the 2022 barricade cases, including Serb List President Zlatan Elek. The office has not released full details of the ongoing investigation.