Zubin Potok arrests spark political tension and infrastructure attack trial

Authorities in Kosovo have initiated legal proceedings following the arrest of nine Serbs in Zubin Potok suspected of war crimes and involvement in an attack on critical infrastructure. A court session is scheduled for three defendants—brothers Dragisha and Jovan Viqentijeviq, along with Igor Dimoviq—accused of detonating explosives at the Iber Lepenc canal on November 29, 2024.

The indictment from the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK) alleges the group used approximately 20 kilograms of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) to damage the canal, a vital structure for drinking water and energy production. The prosecution claims the act was intended to cause serious intimidation and threaten the constitutional order and security of Kosovo.

In response to the arrests, Miloš Vučević, chairman of the SNS, accused Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti of using “terror and intimidation” against Serbs in the north. Former military officer Hafir Hoxha noted that the timing of the arrests, occurring during Serbia's election campaign, has shifted the issue from a legal matter to a political one, as Vučević has framed the actions as political pressure.