One year after the explosion on the Ibar–Lepenac Canal: Who is truly responsible?

Exactly one year has passed since the powerful explosion on the Ibar–Lepenac canal in the village of Varage in Zubin Potok. Kosovo officials immediately characterized it as a terrorist attack and accused Belgrade; the international community expressed concern, while officials in Belgrade pointed to members of the Kosovo Police as responsible for the sabotage. The circumstances surrounding the case remain unclear to this day.

Written by: Veljko Nestorovic

Shortly after the explosion, the Kosovo Police arrested ten individuals for alleged involvement in the incident, two of whom were kept in custody while the others were released. Despite Pristina’s claims that Belgrade was behind the event, the accusations remained unsupported—without backing from Brussels or Washington—and a full year later, no one has been prosecuted or convicted for the explosion.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated at the time that he firmly believed Serbia was behind the explosion.
“If Serbia did not do it, then Serbia and Russia did it together,” Kurti said, adding that it was absurd to think Kosovo alone was behind the attack.
“There is no country in Europe under more international oversight than Kosovo. I believe we will surpass even Bosnia. We have KFOR here, so many troop-contributing countries. Do you understand how closely monitored we are? How is it possible that someone thinks something can be done here without Americans and Europeans noticing? It’s absurd,” Kurti insisted.
Belgrade’s Novosti reported soon thereafter that through operational engagement in assessing the sabotage on the Ibar–Lepenac canal in northern Kosovo, the Serbian Security and Information Agency (BIA) had obtained information indicating that the sabotage was carried out by an organized criminal group composed of members of the Kosovo Police, and that the operation was conducted under the orders of Kosovo Police officer Mehmet Terbunja, known as “Meho,” responsible for the North Mitrovica region.
At the time, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill stated that the United States saw no evidence pointing to Belgrade in connection with the attack on the Ibar–Lepenac canal.
“I think all sides want to know the truth about who did this. We certainly do not see any evidence pointing to Belgrade. But someone did do it, and a thorough investigation needs to be conducted,” Hill said.
Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đuric stated in April this year that Serbian security services had proof regarding the diversion on the Ibar–Lepenac canal which clearly indicated involvement by the Kosovo Police.
“Our investigation did not last half an hour as theirs did; it was a months-long analysis that demonstrated the implication of the Pristina Police in those events, and now I expect the international actors to respond and translate this into judicial consequences. Kurti’s aides and associates, or anyone who issued political orders, will have to face consequences,” Đuric told TV Prva at the time.

A New “Incident” on the Ibar–Lepenac Canal

On Wednesday, 26 November, a new “incident” occurred on the Ibar–Lepenac canal when the nylon covering the canal was damaged. An investigation is underway, Petrit Fejza, deputy commander of the North Mitrovica Police Station, told Kosovo Online.
“The Kosovo Police went to the field and conducted an inspection. The investigation is ongoing. The cause of the damage could be human error, weather conditions, anything—we are still looking into it,” Fejza said.

Baraliu: I Do Not Exclude Belgrade’s Involvement

University professor Mazllum Baraliu told Kosovo Online that the attack on the Ibar–Lepenac canal was primarily directed against civilians, as it concerns water—a basic necessity—and that the case is fully in the hands of the institutions.
“It is evident that there are suspects in this process and that this was an attack harmful to all citizens because it concerns essential needs, water. There are clearly suspicions, and every country could interpret such a situation differently, but this is now a matter for the institutions,” he noted.
He added that the attack was harmful and unacceptable, assessing that it was directed primarily against the public.
“There are possible perpetrators who cannot be considered guilty until the judicial process is completed, but they are suspects, and the prosecutorial bodies assessed that they were, in some way, involved in this attack, which is indeed harmful and unacceptable by any standard, because it affects citizens, not just the state or institutions that may have been targeted,” Baraliu said.
He directed responsibility toward Serbia.
“Belgrade has shown that it knows how to interfere in such matters. We have the case in Banjska, which cannot be justified by any standard,” Baraliu stated.

Stevic: Proceedings against local Serbs continue without clear links to the explosion

Journalist from North Mitrovica, Lazar Stevic, told Kosovo Online that even a year after the explosion on the Ibar–Lepenac canal, there has been no progress in the investigation, despite Pristina’s immediate accusations against Belgrade. He emphasized that no evidence exists to support these claims, while proceedings continue against local Serbs without any clear link to the explosion itself.
Stevic recalled that Prime Minister Kurti, then in a technical mandate, rushed to accuse Serbia right after the incident, even though no confirmation existed.
“It was not even 15 or 20 minutes after the explosion—I remember that day well—when Pristina officials, led by Albin Kurti, immediately accused Belgrade and Serbia of the attack. Yet now, one year later, everything is at a standstill; they have no evidence that Serbia was behind it,” Stevic said.
He pointed out that proceedings continue against Serbs whose homes were searched after the explosion, although no relevant evidence linking them to the attack was ever found.
“There were some indictments after they broke into Serb homes, but they found nothing except fishing boots and hunting rifles. Even today, these people remain indicted—but not for the explosion at the Ibar–Lepenac canal, rather for possession of weapons and other minor offenses. Everything remains stuck,” Stevic noted.

He emphasized that the only side that presented concrete information was the Serbian government.
“President Aleksandar Vucic publicly disclosed the names of those who participated in the attack—all as part of an attempt to place blame on Serbia. A year has passed, and Pristina remains silent. They no longer mention Ibar–Lepenac because they know that what they attempted simply failed; it brought no positive results. What they wanted was to blame Serbia and make it the sole culprit,” he concluded.
According to him, this was yet another failed attempt by Pristina’s authorities to shift responsibility onto Serbia.
“We shall see whether the international community continues to remain silent. None of them speak about this, although Serbia came forward with concrete names. No investigation has been conducted, so this is yet another failed attempt by Albin Kurti and the authorities in Pristina to accuse Serbia of something for which it is not responsible,” Stevic added.

Delevic: The Case Is Based on Assumptions

Milos Delevic, attorney for Dragisa Vicentijevic—suspected of the attack on the Ibar–Lepenac canal—told Kosovo Online that the entire case is based on assumptions, without a single piece of evidence.
Delevic emphasized that Vicentijevic has long been in custody based on a decision of the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina, which is founded solely on assumptions and alleged suspicions unsupported by concrete evidence.
“The ruling cites charges such as undermining the constitutional order, destruction of public infrastructure, and alleged links to serious criminal acts, including the gravest qualification—terrorism. Yet to this day, despite numerous actions undertaken by the prosecution, not a single piece of material evidence has been presented to support such accusations,” Delevic said.
He appealed for an end to media speculation.
“We expect the investigation to be conducted transparently, without media speculation and without violating the presumption of innocence,” he stressed.

Nrecaj: Convincing Evidence Is Lacking

Anton Nrecaj, senior advisor at the Center for Legal Assistance and Regional Development, stated that the Ibar–Lepenac case lacks convincing evidence, which is one of the reasons no indictment has been filed.
“For a terrorist act of this magnitude—with implications for national security, critical infrastructure, and possible international elements—technical evidence is required: explosive analyses, expert reports, international monitoring if state involvement is suspected, and solid proof. This takes time,” Nrecaj told Albanian Post.
He noted that there are difficulties in international cooperation, potential foreign involvement, as well as political risk and uncertainty for social or political stability.
For all these reasons, Nrecaj believes the prosecution “must prove the role of suspects with strong evidence (expert analyses, financial flows, explosive traces, travel records, testimonies).”
“Not merely on the basis of suspicion, but on facts that carry weight in court,” he said.
In his view, under such circumstances there should be no “political rush to file an indictment just for the sake of formality.”

Miftaraj: A Decisive Prosecutorial Response Is Needed

Executive Director of the Kosovo Law Institute, Ehat Miftaraj, nonetheless expects the prosecution to conduct a professional investigation supported by concrete evidence, KosovaPress reports.
“As the Institute has repeatedly stated, it is essential for the prosecution’s investigation in this case to be conducted professionally, with concrete evidence, so that the court proceedings—whether indictment or verdict—can earn the trust of the public and our international partners,” Miftaraj said.
He reminded that U.S. embassies in both Pristina and Belgrade have called for clarity and independent investigations.
“Under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Criminal Code, the prosecution has two years to conduct its investigation. Only one year has passed. But given that two persons remain in custody, the prosecution should act more efficiently to fully resolve this case as soon as possible,” Miftaraj stated.

Residents of Zubin Potok One Year After the Explosion

Residents of Zubin Potok told Kosovo Online that no one from the Serb community is responsible for the explosion.
“A year later, literally nothing has changed. I believe no one from the Serb community—nor Belgrade—is responsible. After all, the investigation has been stagnant, with nothing resolved. Aside from a few of our men who remain under indictment, there has been no trial… nothing. We hope at least that will be resolved and that their innocence will be proven. As for the rest—it’s all on the conscience of the Kosovo authorities,” one resident said.

Residents of nearby villages also say they do not feel completely safe, especially when Kosovo Police vehicles pass through their streets.
“For now it is calm. I don’t go to town often—maybe once every two months, sometimes even less. No one bothers me, but I still feel uneasy. Honestly, when they pass by me, I don’t feel comfortable. We are used to living in the village, but still—I feel uneasy when I see them,” a woman from Brnjak noted.
A resident of Ugljare, who lives close to the canal, recalled the explosion and described it as powerful and frightening.
“We didn’t know what happened. It was terrifying. The house shook. My house is right next to the main road. We are used to KFOR, they’ve been here for years. It’s nothing new anymore—KFOR, EULEX, helicopters in the sky. But pleasant? No. Free? No. You never know what tomorrow will bring. That Ibar–Lepenac, if the explosion had been a little further along, where the canal narrows… our houses, everything would have been gone—who knows how far… the water would have carried everything down to Kraljevo,” she said.
A woman from Kolasine stated that things are currently calm, but people never feel entirely safe given the overall situation.
“There haven’t been incidents affecting us directly as citizens here, but we are never truly safe given the overall situation, which is equally difficult for Serbs and Albanians,” she said.
A retired woman from Zubin Potok believes no one benefited from the explosion.
“I’m a pensioner, I don’t bother anyone, no one bothers me, and that’s it. My opinion is that no one gained anything from the explosion—no one at all. We are used to living the way we live, and that’s it. I just hope nothing similar happens again. If people think positively, we can all live peacefully and normally,” she said.