[5] The Macedonian police refused to storm the village despite public calls to do so, instead preferring to allow Albanian leaders to resolve the problem.
Western observers estimated fifty rebels in the village then, uniformed and armed with Kalashnikovs, mortars, and rocket launchers.
[11] The Macedonian government refused to do a large-scale police operation to retake control over the village, fearing it would raise ethnic tensions in the country and mobilize support for Krasniqi.
The police issued warrants for his arrest after he ignored court summons for hearings over the charges of theft, kidnapping and illegal possession of weapons.
In July, President Branko Crvenkovski held a session of the National Security Council to discuss the situation.
He was also found guilty of a series of crimes, including election irregularities, possession of weapons, and criminal association.
[13] After almost 13 years spent behind bars, Krasniqi escaped in 2020 after a free weekend from the Štip prison where he was serving his sentence, two months before the parliamentary elections.