Detention for former serbian interior MIA suspected of kidnapping Milan Vukashinović in Kosovo

The Basic Court in Mitrovica has ordered a one-month detention measure for a former member of Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), who is suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of Kosovo citizen Milan Vukashinović.

According to an official statement, the defendant identified by the initials V.M. has been placed in detention for a period of one month, effective from December 20, 2025, until January 19, 2026.

The suspect was arrested on December 20, 2025, in the village of Leshak during a joint operation conducted by the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), on suspicion of involvement in the kidnapping of Milan Vukashinović on November 1, 2025.

Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla stated that the arrested individual had previously been a member of Serbia’s MIA and was later integrated into the Kosovo Police under the 2013 agreement, from which he subsequently resigned. According to Sveçla, there are well-founded suspicions that the suspect continuously cooperated with and supported Serbian security structures.

“It is suspected that the arrested individual was involved in the kidnapping of Milan Vukashinović, who was seriously wounded during the abduction and is currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital in Serbia,” Sveçla said.

The acting minister further stated that Vukashinović is suspected of having had contacts with Serbian intelligence and military structures, of preparing young Serbs for training in cooperation with members of the Serbian army, and of having at least been aware of the preparations for the terrorist attack in Banjska.

Following a court warrant, authorities searched the suspect’s house and accompanying facilities, where they seized nine mobile phones, one laptop, three A4-format documents, a hunting rifle with 39 rounds of ammunition, an ammunition vest, and a gun barrel.

The Kosovo Police announced that Milan Vukashinović, a citizen of the Republic of Kosovo of Serbian nationality, is suspected to have been wounded and kidnapped within the territory of Kosovo, near the Leposavić area, by Serbian gendarmerie forces on November 1, 2025.

In connection with the case, the Mitrovica Prosecution has interviewed the victim’s mother and other close relatives. Media reports indicate that one day after the incident, the acting Minister of Internal Affairs inspected the border area where the abduction is believed to have occurred.

Sveçla stated that Vukashinović was kidnapped due to his opposition to the Serb List and that he is currently being treated at a hospital in Niš, Serbia, adding that he has been denied legal protection. He called on the international community to increase pressure on Serbia and to take punitive measures in order, as he stated, to prevent further destabilizing actions in the region.

According to available information, Vukashinović had previously been subjected to attacks and threats, including an explosive attack on his vehicle approximately a year and a half ago.

Kosovo authorities have emphasized that investigations into the wounding and kidnapping case are ongoing./TheGeoPost.