Acting Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rashiq, has accused the Serb List and political structures linked to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić of systematic pressure on Kosovo Serbs ahead of the June 7 elections.
Rashiq, who is also the leader of the Party for Freedom, Justice and Survival, says that the political climate in the Serb community has significantly worsened and that, according to him, methods of psychological, institutional, and physical intimidation are being used to secure political support for the Serb List.
In an election interview for KosovaPress, he describes the party led by Zlatan Elek as an “extension of Vučić’s SNS,” claiming that its way of functioning is similar to authoritarian structures in Serbia. According to the only Serb minister in the “Kurti 2” and “Kurti 3” governments, political as well as physical pressure on citizens has intensified more than in previous election processes.
“This time, additional extremism has been added to this process, because I know what the reason is at the regional level, and in Serbia in particular, as you know, the Serb List is an extension or branch of Vučić’s SNS, someone who is a dictator unseen before, and I know the way they function, both politically and in a more extreme sense, as we had the case in Banjska… There, like in the time of the Gestapo, as it was described to me, I was not there, there are some rooms, not proper offices for physical and psychological mistreatment, and there they apply pressure by telling people that everyone must vote for the Serb List, because in this case, if you vote for Rashiq, you lose your job and all the benefits you potentially have, and not only them personally but also their family members. Therefore, over 20 people have lost, I am speaking only about the Gračanica region,” he said.
He also says that people close to him have been stopped at the border by officials presenting themselves as representatives of Serbian security services, and that they were questioned for hours.
Serb citizens, he says, are being stopped at the Merdare border and are being asked to bring photos guaranteeing a vote for the Serb List.
“A whole structure of dictatorship that we currently have in Belgrade. (Is Vučić behind this?) Absolutely, he is the ‘mastermind’ in all these processes, and we know how he has acted until now and continues to act in the same way. I remind you that in every election process, my associates, those identified as my activists, as well as my friends who have nothing to do with politics, are stopped at the border… Each of them who is engaged has an obligation that for every job they have, they must bring 10 photos of votes guaranteeing that they voted for the Serb List. Second, each of them must bring at least three family members from Serbia to Kosovo to vote again for the Serb List. Therefore, a level of blackmail that exceeds all normal limits we have had so far. A short conclusion regarding your question: yes, we have always had this pressure, but now it is at an even higher level, which truly has exceeded all limits of normality or what a person can imagine could happen in the future,” Rashiq stated.
According to Rashiq, the political and operational organization of the Serb List is controlled by structures operating from Serbia. He also mentioned the name Milan Radojičić, saying that orders are received directly from him.
“He is, in terms of such operations and organization, for example the meetings that these so-called representatives have, they are not representatives, but they are appointed as such. For every meeting and consultation they go to Kopaonik, they do not go to Belgrade, because that is the center of power, so to speak, where all these orders are received from Radojičić himself. So for me it is clear how it functions and it is not a secret, to be honest, everyone knows this,” he added.
The acting minister called on Kosovo institutions, including the police and prosecution, to react to alleged cases of pressure and violations of citizens’ rights.
Meanwhile, he also called for a response from the international community in Kosovo.
On the other hand, Rashiq also spoke about the student protests in Serbia, which, according to him, are bringing the end of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s rule.
“Absolutely, I have no doubt that this is a matter of time. Absolutely, because this, believe me, is such a positive force and so many people, that I am personally very pleasantly surprised by how prepared they are and how, without any obstacle, they are ready to take social responsibility into their own hands,” he concluded Rashiq.
