Seven persons of Serbian nationality was detained in Gračanica and other areas in Kosovo due to suspicions that they exerted pressure on voters and participated in politically motivated dismissals ahead of the parliamentary elections in Kosovo, Radio Free Europe announced. Among those detained are directors and employees of institutions that function in the Serbian system, primarily in healthcare and education. The Kosovo authorities state that the action was carried out after reports that some workers were losing their jobs because of their political commitment and lack of support for the Serbian List.
Acting Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo Dzeljalj Svečlja said that institutions will not tolerate intimidation of citizens and attempts to influence the free expression of voters. He stated that anyone who tries to jeopardize the electoral process will bear the consequences in accordance with the law.
The Minister for Communities and Return in the Government of Kosovo, Nenad Rašić, said that people employed in Serbian institutions were exposed to pressure and threats for supporting his political option. According to his claims, some employees were fired or forced to sign declarations of loyalty to Srpska lista. Rašić assessed that this is a long-standing model of political control among Serbs in Kosovo.
Radio Free Europe also reported the testimonies of several employees who claim that they lost their jobs or were subjected to pressure due to their political views. Some of them state that they were invited to talks and warned that they could lose their jobs if they support Rašić or other political options that are not connected to Srpski list.
Dacic: Anti-Serbian activities
On the other hand, the representatives of the Serbian List reject the accusations and claim that it is a politically motivated action by Pristina. The Vice President of the Serbian List, Igor Simić, stated that the arrests were an attempt to destabilize Serbian institutions in Kosovo and a direct attack on the health and education system that functions according to the laws of Serbia. He assessed that with these moves, Pristina is trying to influence the election process and help the political opponents of the Serbian List among the Kosovo Serbs.
Officials from Belgrade also reacted to the case. The Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, stated that Serbia will sanction all those who participate in, as he stated, "anti-Serb activities" directed against the Serbs in Kosovo. The director of the Office for Kosovo, Petar Petković, assessed that the detentions were "illegal" and accused the authorities in Pristina of using repression to weaken the Serbian List before the elections.
This case further strained the political relations between the Serbs in Kosovo, where for a long time there have been deep divisions between the Serbian List, which has the support of official Belgrade, and the political options gathered around Nenad Rašić, who participates in the institutions of Kosovo. At the same time, international organizations and election observers have repeatedly warned of the need for the electoral process in Kosovo to be conducted without political pressure, intimidation and abuse of institutions.
Source: Radio Free Europe
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