There can only be one result: 10 – 0 for Aleksandar Vučić, who is at the head of the regime's lists in all ten local governments where elections are held on Sunday. That's the message that's been coming from the top for weeks Serbian Progressive Party, which is spread by ministers, regime media, but also by the president himself.
The narrative is spreading that any other outcome would be disastrous for Serbia, because, as they claim, on the other side, "anti-Serbs", "blockaders-terrorists" and enemies of the state are financed from abroad.
Numerous violent incidents have been recorded since the early morning of election day: masked men in black, regime bikers and members of the Red Berets marching in the streets. Beatings, intimidation, and coordinated reaction of the police were recorded, which, according to the testimonies, does not legitimize or arrest the perpetrators of attacks on students, opposition activists and journalists.
"It's like a state of war, not local elections," say observers.
Already in the first hours after the polling stations opened, it became clear that the government does not want to leave anything to chance. The myth of Aleksandar Vučić's invincibility is being defended, with the fear that any election defeat could trigger a wider stratification of the government system, whose ratings are falling.
Attacks on students and journalists
During the first few hours after the opening of polling stations, numerous attacks on students, observers, journalists and citizens were recorded, announced the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (SRG).
According to reports, masked men dressed in black participated in the attacks. According to testimonies from the field, the police intervened, but it is not known whether the attackers were identified or detained.
Zoomer journalist Darko Gligorijević was among those attacked. In Baja Bašta, unknown persons tried to prevent him from reporting, took his phone, and then hit him with their fists and sprayed him with pepper spray, despite the fact that he introduced himself as a journalist.
Reporters from Mašina, Blokade info and Political Globe of Serbia were also exposed to the incidents. Freelance journalist Ivana Marsenić's camera was confiscated, while the tires of the Insider team's vehicle were punctured. Vehicles of various observation missions were also damaged in Bajina Bašta.
The SRG also announced that the police detained Revolt journalist Ivan Bjelic with the explanation that a warrant had been issued for him, with the request that he be released immediately and publicly explain the reasons for the detention.
Bor: Fights and pressure on voters
In Bor, the incidents started already in the early hours of the morning. According to the students in the blockade, around eight o'clock in front of polling station number 40, a student was beaten, while members of the mobile teams were also attacked.
Reporter Nova reports that there was a fight between dozens of people in front of the premises of the Serbian Progressive Party, with allegations that certain groups are putting pressure on voters.
Natalija Paunović, representative of the Kreni-promeni movement, stated that the atmosphere in all ten municipalities resembles a "state of war".
"In Bor, our teams were on the verge of an incident because they discovered people with parallel voter lists. They threatened them with attacks if they were filmed," said Paunović.
She added that the police in many places are protecting "loyalists" and sympathizers of the government, as well as that it has been observed that voters are being brought in organized.
Redhead: Attack with a baseball bat
In Crvenka, according to information from social networks, there was an incident in front of the "Mercedes" tavern.
Citizens entered the facility due to suspicion of the existence of parallel voter lists, after which a man with a baseball bat appeared and attacked them. The police secured the entrance to the building.
If the day is known in the morning, tensions could increase further as the closing of polling stations and the end of election day approaches.
