Kosovo PM accuses Serbia of backing Milan Radojčić in hybrid war

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti has accused Serbia of directly supporting Milan Radojčić, a key figure in organized crime, in a continued hybrid war against Kosovo. The claims come after a series of attacks in the northern region.

Dec 27, 2024 - Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has intensified accusations against Serbia, alleging that the Serbian government is providing significant support to Milan Radojčić, a notorious criminal linked to organized crime. Speaking at a press conference, Kurti said that Serbia’s actions, including facilitating Radojčić’s medical treatment, amounted to “coordinating” with his criminal group in what Kurti described as an ongoing hybrid war against Kosovo.

While Kurti acknowledged that Radojčić is no longer involved in large-scale attacks similar to Russian operations, he noted that Radojčić continues to engage others to carry out specific missions in northern Kosovo. The Prime Minister outlined 15 separate attacks between June 30 and November 29, all of which he said were aimed at destabilizing Kosovo.

“These attacks were carefully planned to harm Kosovo,” Kurti stated. He further revealed that intelligence reports showed Radojčić was behind an attack on the Ibër Lepenc canal, a key site in the ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.

Radojčić, who has long been linked to high-ranking Serbian officials, remains a central figure in the conflict, particularly in northern Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians and Serbs have clashed for years. While Serbia continues to deny any involvement, Kosovo insists that Serbia's backing of figures like Radojčić fuels the conflict.

Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, has faced ongoing challenges in gaining full recognition on the international stage. Tensions in the north, home to a large ethnic Serb population, remain a flashpoint for violence.

The recent attacks have raised alarms in the international community, with both the European Union and the United States urging restraint and calling for renewed dialogue between the two sides.