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Why is the Serbian secret service interested in "Islamist circles" in Kosovo?

2026-08-19 23:13:29Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Why is the Serbian secret service interested in "Islamist circles" in
According to experts, Serbia "overestimates" the risk from terrorism and violent extremism and tries to

Two espionage cases uncovered in Kosovo have highlighted the interest of the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA) in individuals linked to radical Islamist circles.

According to the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office, in these cases it is not only about gathering information, but also about identifying people who could be contacted and recruited by the Serbian service.

On August 13, Kosovo authorities arrested Fehim Sali on suspicion of espionage. According to the Prosecution's request for detention, Sali is suspected of providing a BIA official with information about the political situation in Kosovo, including data on members of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency.

He is also suspected of having provided information about people belonging to Wahhabi circles and of having proposed some of them to BIA officials as potential targets for contact and recruitment.

During the search of his apartment, four phones and 40 thousand euros were found. The court approved the request for 30 days of detention.

This is the second significant case in a few months. In June, the Basic Court in Pristina sentenced Hysri Selimi to six years in prison for espionage for the BIA. According to the indictment, he had collaborated with the Serbian service for more than 15 years.

Selimi had traveled to Syria in 2015 and joined the terrorist organization Islamic State. After returning to Kosovo, he served a sentence for participating in terrorist organizations.

The prosecution alleged that Selimi had provided the BIA with information about Albanians who joined the Islamic State, their organization and activities in Syria, as well as about other people after returning to Kosovo. According to the indictment, he received up to 700 euros per month. Selimi has denied the charges.

Why is the BIA interested in radical circles?

Experts estimate that collecting information on radicalized groups could be linked to Serbia's security interests and the fight against terrorism.

Predrag Petrovic from the Belgrade Center for Security Policy says that information about Salafist communities can serve Serbia in identifying potential threats and exchanging information with Western security services.

But Washington-based security and foreign policy expert Adrian Shtuni sees the issue in a broader context.

According to him, BIA's activities in Kosovo may also be related to Serbia's efforts to maintain influence in Kosovo, to create intelligence networks, and to hinder the consolidation of Kosovo as a sovereign state.

Shtuni emphasizes that a distinction must be made between gathering information for security purposes and recruiting people to expand a network of agents.

He warns that potential penetration into radical Islamist circles could create opportunities for influence, destabilization, and exploitation of future crises.

Meanwhile, Petrovic warns that Serbia could also use the threat of Islamist extremism to present Kosovo and the region to Western countries as a space with destabilizing potential.

Kosovo authorities have also investigated other suspected cases of collaboration with Serbian services. Among the people accused of espionage are officials of Kosovo institutions and people who had access to sensitive information.

The BIA has not publicly commented on the latest allegations.

The cases of Sali and Selim have brought back into focus concerns about the activity of Serbian services in Kosovo and the use of sensitive social and religious networks for information gathering and influence. / Taken from REL


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