The Serbian Minister of Justice Awaits a Decision on Balijagić’s Extradition to Montenegro
Arrest of Balijagić, Photo: Serbian Ministry of Interior
For Alija Balijagić from Bjelopolje to be extradited to Montenegro, the only thing remaining is the final decision from Serbian Justice Minister Maja Popović. She needs to receive confirmation from the Court of Appeal in Kragujevac stating that all procedural requirements for his extradition have been satisfied.
The Court of Appeal in Kragujevac upheld a decision confirming that the necessary procedural requirements for extraditing Balijagić, who is suspected of murdering Jovan and Milenka Madžgalj in the village of Sokolac, Bijelo Polje, on October 25, 2024, have been met.
Balijagić contested the Higher Court’s extradition decision in Užice, but the Court of Appeal in Kragujevac dismissed his appeal as unfounded, according to sources from the Tanjug agency.
The court will send the case files to Serbian Justice Minister Maja Popović.
On December 9, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Užice brought charges against Balijagić for possession and theft of firearms from a residence near Priboj, where he was apprehended on November 21 after nearly a month of evading capture. At that time, authorities recovered two rifles from his possession, and later, a third rifle was found.
Following Balijagić’s arrest, which involved extensive efforts by the Police Department and the Army of Montenegro, the Justice Ministry promptly reached out to its counterparts in Serbia, requesting his extradition to Montenegro. Balijagić has spent more than half of his life incarcerated.
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