Radoicic: We came to Banjska to encourage the Serbs; we are not terrorists but fighters for freedom

Vice President of the Serb List, Milan Radoicic, has resigned from his position and stated that on September 24, 2023, he had come to Banjska with his compatriots to encourage the Serbs to resist Kurti's regime. He emphasized that this had not been known to anyone in the structures of the Serbian Government or local political structures in northern Kosovo and Metohija. He also stated that they were not terrorists but fighters for the freedom of their people.

Radoicic's public statement, read by lawyer Goran Petronijevic, is presented in its entirety:

"I, Milan Radoicic, born in 1978 in Pec, Kosovo and Metohija, Republic of Serbia, the son of Rajko, inform the entire public due to numerous speculations that have arisen. On September 24, 2023, I, together with my compatriots from northern Kosovo and Metohija, came to the region of Banjska. The reason for our return was to encourage the Serbs in that area to resist Kurti's regime's terror, protect our people who are exposed to this terror on a daily basis, and create conditions for realizing the dream of freedom for my people in northern Kosovo and Metohija.

I inform all those persecuting the Serbs, from Kurti to his numerous foreign supporters, that I personally made all logistical preparations for the defense of our people against the occupiers. My act had no other character or intention and had no connection with my previous political engagement.

I did not inform anyone in the structures of the Government of the Republic of Serbia or in local political structures in northern Kosovo and Metohija about this since we had different views on the methods of resisting Kurti's terror.

After the people resisted Kurti's terror on several occasions, we withdrew several times in the name of political reasons to de-escalate the situation. We were told that this would contribute to de-escalation and that KFOR and the international community would take all necessary steps to protect the Serbs. However, the other side did not see this as goodwill and creating conditions for negotiations but as a weakness. As a result, Kurti's forces, which had illegally occupied northern Kosovo, intensified their activities, including shootings, beating civilians, unjustified arrests, displays of force, and intimidation of the Serbs. In short, all the resistance methods that have been applied so far have not improved the lives of the Serbs but, on the contrary, have intensified the brutality of Kurti's regime.

In this atmosphere, I decided on this act because Kosovo and Metohija are my homeland, my home, an integral part of my country, the Republic of Serbia, and are being forcibly taken away from us, while the Serbs are being persecuted with the ultimate goal of ethnically cleansing Kosovo and Metohija of the Serbs. Therefore, we were forced to try to stop the persecution of the Serbs, protect the lives of our families and fellow citizens, and at the same time draw the attention of Pristina's regime and the international community that the Serbs will no longer tolerate Kurti's terror.

The police officer's death occurred accidentally, after which a fierce battle ensued on both sides, resulting in the deaths of three of our comrades - heroes who gave their lives for the freedom and preservation of Kosovo and Metohija.

Their noble sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Let it be clear to everyone that we are not terrorists but fighters for the freedom of our own people.

I emphasize once again publicly that my return to northern Kosovo and Metohija on September 24, 2023, had nothing to do with my previous political engagement within the Serb List. Furthermore, I inform the public that I am submitting an irrevocable resignation from the position of Vice President of the Serb List.

„I am ready to respond to the call of the relevant authorities of the Republic of Serbia regarding these events. Long live Serbia!“ Radoicic stated in his public address.