Attacks on policemen in the north of Kosovo/Sweçla: Radojčič is at the head of the smugglers

According to him, it is about several groups of smugglers, which are closely coordinated by the institutions of Serbia.

Serbia, says Sveçla, uses these groups to undermine Kosovo’s authority in the north of the country, while as a reward, he adds, it gives them opportunities to get rich as well as unlimited immunity.

Sveçla says that Millan Radojçiç, who is on the run from the Kosovo authorities for the “Brezovica” case, is one of the leaders of these structures. Radojčič is the vice president of Lista Serbe, the main party of Serbs in Kosovo. The “Brezovica” case concerns the issuance of illegal permits in the tourist complex in Brezovica. In this case, Radojčič is suspected of “intimidating witnesses during the criminal procedure”.

Radojčič is also on the black list of the United States under the suspicion that, together with the businessman from the north of Kosovo, Zvonko Veselinović and dozens of other Serbs, they belong to a network connected to international organized crime.

Members of the Kosovo Police were attacked over the weekend in the north of the country, for the umpteenth time this year, during efforts to prevent a smuggling of goods.

Radio Free Europe: Minister, there has been another attack against members of the Kosovo Police in the north. Can you tell us what is known so far?

Xelal Svechla: Yes, it is clear that criminals in the north are unhappy with the current situation there, as the level of rule of law has increased tremendously in that area, which for more than 20 years has been known to be problematic for the law. Their tendency to continue with the same methods, with the same approaches in relation to the law, are definitely being continuously fought by the security structures of the Republic of Kosovo.

That night, the Kosovo Police, based on the information received from the intelligence, set up a checkpoint on one of the alternative roads that lead to the illegal border points. And, on this occasion, he came across an organized group of smugglers and with the reaction of the Kosovo Police, they tried to evade the stop and actually attacked the checkpoint of the KP directly endangering the lives of the officials Kosovo Police.

Radio Free Europe: Do you have information, who are these attackers?

Xelal Svechla: Yes, it is already known. Two of them have been arrested. Unfortunately, the guardian prosecutor of the Basic Prosecutor’s Office that night released one of them in a regular procedure, surprisingly. But one is in custody. They are persons known to the security structures and the law is already dealing with them.

Radio Free Europe: What kind of people are known to police structures?

Xelal Svechla: They are known as individuals involved in illegal activities, sometimes smuggling goods, sometimes opposing members of the Police, sometimes presenting themselves as ordinary criminals, and sometimes as parallel structures, or a pillar of parallel structures dealing with intimidation [frikësim] especially of our citizens in the north, especially those of the Serbian entity. And, since it is not the first time that these people are involved in criminal activities, I expect the justice structures to deal with them seriously.

Radio Free Europe: Do you have information on what stage the investigations into these cases of attacks have reached?

Xelal Svechla: It is clear that the attacks are coordinated in order to prevent the extension of the legality of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. We are continuously investigating, with all our capacities, the previous attacks. The anti-terrorism department is leading the investigations and I am convinced that we are on the right track to not only identify their entire structure, but also to prove their criminal activities, in which case other steps would then be taken. next.

Radio Free Europe: Why so far there are no results, there is no indictment?

Xelal Svechla: So far, the problem of the north has been neglected. This was a political decision of the previous structures, since there were also different ideas for territorial exchanges or statements that that part was forgiven by such and such an official of the past or such and such a leader of the past.

There is already a clear will of the leadership of the Republic of Kosovo that law and order should extend to every corner of our country and consequently this has caused all institutions to be mobilized to the maximum so that order and law rule in that part as well as in all parts of the Republic of Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Minister, is it about one group or several groups?

Xelal Svechla: Actually, when it comes to smuggling groups, there are several groups of smugglers, but all closely coordinated by the institutions of Serbia. It means, the leadership of Serbia has continuously used criminal groups to undermine Kosovo in that part, and as a reward they have given them opportunities to get rich, as well as unlimited immunity to these individuals.

Radio Free Europe: Is the rumored Millan Radojčič among them?

Xelal Svechla: Undoubtedly, Millan Radojčič is one of the leaders of this structure. He is now a fugitive, according to the information we have, he is in the territory of Serbia, but he is definitely wanted by justice in Kosovo, and at the first possible moment, he will be brought to justice.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Sveçla, you say that the Government is clear about what it will do in the north of Kosovo, as far as law enforcement is concerned, but is the justice system acting the same way?

Xelal Svechla: Unfortunately, there has been significant stagnation in this direction. We are witnesses in the past, even the mentioned Millan Radojčič himself sometimes had an arrest warrant, sometimes it was removed without any explanation or without any legal basis.

However, now the situation has changed radically. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, with all its agencies, with all its mechanisms, cooperating closely with all other governmental mechanisms, will do its best to combat, document, and then this maximum ours will put all others in extremely unenviable positions, who aim to cushion, overlook crimes and criminals.

We are determined that all crimes and criminals be fought without compromise, without any discrimination or neglect, either on ethnic grounds, on political grounds, or on social status grounds.

It means, there will be no oversight, which violates the laws of Kosovo and violates the sovereignty and integrity of our country.

Radio Free Europe: Based on some information within the Kosovo Police, the police in the north are attacked almost every day. Can you confirm this for us?

Xelal Svechla: No, we cannot say that members of the Kosovo Police are attacked every day. Unfortunately, we are witnessing an approach, let’s not say that of the strong, especially in the north of Kosovo, since they have been used to being above the law for years and years and decades.

Now that time has ended and everyone must be equal before the law, but also responsible before the law and its possible violations.

Radio Free Europe: How did you come to the conclusion that the level of the rule of law has increased in the north of Kosovo?

Xelal Svechla: Look, the level of smuggling in the north has dropped significantly. This is also evidenced by the level of customs duties, or regular imports from Serbia – this is the first.

Second, the level of enforcement and fighting crime and criminals has increased tremendously in the North.

Third, the very embarrassment of these structures, which earlier were able to do almost whatever they wanted in that area, is now an indicator that this situation has changed for the better incomparably, and I emphasize incomparably to the past. Now, is the level of the rule of law, especially in that area, satisfactory for us, not yet. We are mobilized so that the law rules to its maximum in every corner of the Republic of Kosovo. And, I am convinced and I guarantee to the citizens of Kosovo that this will be achieved and the day will not be far when there will be no difference between the municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo, either south of the Iber River or north of the Iber River .

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