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Kosovo Court Sentences Three Serb Separatists to Life and 30 Years for 2023 Banjska Attack

Fact‑check of the Pristina court’s life and 30‑year sentences for the 2023 Banjska attack that killed one officer and three attackers.

Nadia Okafor/3 min/US

Political Correspondent

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Dušan Maksimović (centre) is seen handcuffed in a courtroom in Pristina after being sentenced to 30 years in prison. Photo: 24 April 2026

Dušan Maksimović (centre) is seen handcuffed in a courtroom in Pristina after being sentenced to 30 years in prison. Photo: 24 April 2026

Source: BbcOriginal source

TL;DR: The three claims about the Banjska attack sentencing, casualties, and charges are true.

Claim The Basic Court in Pristina sentenced Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic to life imprisonment and Dusan Maksimovic to a 30‑year prison term for their roles in the 2023 Banjska attack, which resulted in one police officer and three attackers killed.

Evidence Court records show that a Pristina court sentenced two defendants to life in prison and a third to 30 years for the September 2023 Banjska attack, naming Blagoje Spasojevic, Vladimir Tolic, and Dusan Maksimovic as the convicted. Reports from multiple news outlets confirm that the attack triggered a clash with police that left one officer and three gunmen dead. Additionally, the court convicted the three men on terrorism charges related to the 2023 attack, which aligns with the prison terms imposed.

Verdict True.

Analysis The sentencing details, casualty figures, and the scope of charges are consistently reported by independent sources. The court’s judgment reflects the severity of the incident, which officials have described as the most serious armed event in Kosovo since its 2008 independence. Milan Radoicic, identified as one of 45 individuals initially charged, has publicly acknowledged leading the attack, further corroborating the scale of the prosecution.

Watch for any appeals or further developments in the case as the defendants may seek to challenge the verdict.

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