Balkans | The Serbian list calls for a “boycott of the local elections in northern Kosovo”

KosovoThe largest Serbian party in Serbian listExtraordinary local events will be held on April 23 in 4 Serb-inhabited municipalities in the north of the country. votestraight ahead boycott called for it.

In a written statement from the Serb list, “We call on all Serb people in northern Kosovo to remain calm on Sunday, April 23 and not be fooled by the provocations of (Kosovo Prime Minister) Albin Kurti’s regime whose sole aim is to expel Serbs from northern Kosovo by holding these elections.” Statement included.

The statement, which called for a “general boycott” of the extraordinary local elections held in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, which they called “undemocratic elections”, read: “By invading the mayors of Korti, the four municipalities in northern Kosovo were destroyed without The support of the people. We all understood very well that he wanted to lead.” It has been said.

The leader of the Kosovo Serb Party, Aleksandar Jablanović, announced on 20 April that he and his party were withdrawing from the Leposavić municipal elections on the grounds that there were no conditions for the elections to take place.

After the withdrawal of the Kosovo Serb Party from the extraordinary local elections, only Sladjana Pantović from the Serb community, who will run as an independent candidate for mayor of Zvecan, remains in the elections.

– Serbia responds to the elections

Commenting on the elections, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Sunday would be a difficult day for Kosovo Serbs and a “day of shame” for democracy.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabić called Sunday a “black day for democracy” and said Kosovo was violating the rights of Serbs in the country.

He called on Kosovo Serbs to remain calm, and Brnabić said, “Let Kosovo and international institutions celebrate Sunday as a symbol of democracy. We’ll see later.” He rated it.

Milan Radojević, the former mayor of North Mitrovica, one of the Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, confirmed that the Serbs would boycott the elections, “For us, these elections do not exist. On that day, we will also be ready against provocations from Kosovo.” He said.

– Exceptional local elections in northern Kosovo

The President of Kosovo, Fyuza Osmani, announced that the extraordinary local elections in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan were previously scheduled to be held on 18 December 2022, following the withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from central and local institutions in Kosovo, to 23 April due to the situation perilous security situation in the north of the country.

More than a dozen vehicles were set on fire in this area recently, replacing Republic of Kosovo (RKS) license plates issued by Serbia.

A Serbian citizen in the area was also injured with a gun, and it was announced that 4 Kosovo police officers had been suspended for the incident.

The Central Election Commission of Kosovo has decided to reduce the number of polling stations from 44 to 19 to hold extraordinary local elections in 4 municipalities in northern Kosovo. He stated that 13 of these centers are alternative centers and will be established in containers in safe areas.

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo

Although Kosovo is recognized as an independent country by 117 countries, it is described as one of Europe’s “frozen conflict zones” due to persistent ethnic tensions in its north and its inability to become a member of the United Nations.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

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