Two of the four Serbian nationals arrested in Gjakova, Kosovo, on Sunday have admitted to working for Serbian state security institutions, shedding new light on the incident that has stirred public and political concern.
According to court proceedings held at the Basic Court in Gjakova, Pavle Kragović confirmed that he serves as a police inspector in Kragujevac, Serbia. Another detainee, Milovan Stević, stated he is a dentist working at the Serbian Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.
The remaining two arrested individuals—Branko Rakić and Nemanja Vamović—also gave their professions during the court hearing. Rakić said he is a traffic technician, while Vamović claimed to be a forestry engineer.
Among the four, Rakić and Kragović hold dual citizenship, while Stević and Vamović are solely Serbian nationals.
Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, revealed on Facebook that authorities found dangerous items in the vehicle the men were traveling in. These included two knives, an axe, a strobe light, and a photograph featuring the faces of members of the terrorist group involved in the deadly September 2023 Banjska attack.
Prosecutor Venera Shala, while presenting the prosecution's request for pre-trial detention, argued that the sharp weapons were allegedly being carried as part of a visit to Orthodox monasteries in Kosovo. However, she emphasized that the suspects pose a flight risk due to their Serbian citizenship, which could make them unreachable if they cross back into Serbia.
The case is being closely monitored, as tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remain high following recent escalations, including the Banjska attack, which resulted in the deaths of one Kosovo police officer and several armed Serb assailants linked to paramilitary groups.
The court is expected to decide soon on the request for detention as investigations continue.