The Serbian Orthodox Church has expressed its condolences for the victims, both Albanians and Serbs, who suffered on September 24. They clarified that they were not involved in the attack on the Kosovo Police in Banjska, Zvecan, and strongly condemned efforts to implicate them in any way, even as instigators, in the conflicts and tragic events.
“Regrettably, we must emphasize that various groups, from Pristina to different corners of the world, and more disturbingly, even in Belgrade, with diverse ideological motivations, are trying to depict the Serbian Orthodox Church as a participant, and sometimes even as the instigator of conflicts and tragic incidents. Their ultimate aim is for the Serbian Church and its faithful to be erased from ‘Kosovo and Metohija’,” stated their response on September 27.
The church further reiterated its consistent call for the peaceful resolution of misunderstandings in “Kosovo and Metohija” through dialogue.
Regarding the events that occurred on September 24 in northern Kosovo, it was a day marked by violence as Kosovo Police encountered an armed and masked group while attempting to remove road barricades in the village of Banjska, situated in the municipality of Zvecan. Zvecan is one of the four northern municipalities with a Serbian majority population.
Following this clash, the armed group sought refuge in Banjska Monastery, leading to an extended standoff with the police.
Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla and the Police have claimed that Milan Radojičić, the deputy leader of the Serb List, a prominent political party representing Serbs in Kosovo with official support from Belgrade, organized and participated in the attack.
In response to these allegations, Sveçla released a drone-recorded video showing Milan Radojičić’s presence in Banjska.
This situation resulted in the arrest of four individuals linked to the events in Banjska, with the police revealing weapons and other items they claim to have confiscated in the village.
Kosovo has held Serbia responsible for the attack, while Serbia has pointed to Kosovo Serbs as the primary actors.
Both the United States and the European Union have strongly denounced the attack, urging that those responsible be brought to justice.
