An investigation by investigative media outlet KRIK has uncovered allegations of an organized scheme to manipulate Serbian voters in Austria ahead of Serbia’s parliamentary elections on October 25.
According to footage obtained by journalists, a Serbian association in Vienna with alleged ties to Aleksandar Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has been registering citizens to vote through unofficial channels while encouraging them to support the ruling party.
The investigation alleges that the Association of Serbs in Austria has assumed responsibilities legally assigned to Serbia’s diplomatic institutions by collecting personal documents and facilitating voter registration for the parliamentary elections.
A Serbian bakery in Vienna called “Pekarica” was also reportedly involved. According to KRIK, employees directed citizens seeking to register to vote to the nearby association.
The footage reportedly shows association representatives filling out voter registration forms, collecting personal information, and claiming to send the documents directly to the Serbian Embassy.
However, the investigation suggests that the registration process was not equally accessible to all citizens.
In several recorded conversations, association representatives allegedly asked people about their political views and openly expressed support for Vučić.
“We don’t register these blockaders and nonsense. We communicate with our own people to see who supports Vučić and who will be in Vienna on October 25,” one individual can reportedly be heard saying in footage published by KRIK.
In another instance, a citizen was allegedly told that if they wanted to vote for other candidates, they would have to find another place to register.
In addition to assistance with registration, citizens were reportedly given gifts, including lighters, pens, and bags bearing the SNS logo.
Andrej Leskovac Identified as a Key Figure
One of the main individuals identified in the investigation is Andrej Leskovac, who, according to KRIK, played a significant role in organizing voter registrations and promoting Vučić’s party, despite holding no official position within the association.
KRIK journalists met Leskovac in person in Vienna. He denied that the association was registering voters or had any organizational ties to the SNS or the Serbian Embassy.
However, he acknowledged that members of the association support the Serbian president.
“Regarding the political views within the association, I can tell you right away that everyone here loves Vučić. That is why Vučić will win, because he is the right president,” Leskovac stated.
Questions Raised Over Serbian Embassy’s Handling of Voter Registration
The investigation has also raised concerns about how the Serbian Embassy in Vienna handled citizens’ voter registration applications.
Several Serbian nationals living in Austria told KRIK they had encountered delays, received no responses, or had their applications rejected despite submitting the required documentation.
One of them, Jelena Živanović Valtner, said her application had been rejected several times without a clear explanation, leaving her with the option of voting only in Serbia.
Lawyer Vladimir Tupanjać, who monitors electoral processes in cooperation with the CRTA organization, assessed that the activities documented by KRIK constituted violations of electoral legislation.
According to him, foreign associations are not entitled to conduct party-political campaigns, provide electoral services on behalf of state institutions, or distribute promotional materials for political parties.
“All these manipulations, abuses, and legal violations indicate that there is a systematically organized method of manipulating voter lists, buying votes, and influencing citizens’ electoral choices,” Tupanjać stated.
He warned that such practices could discourage voters who oppose the ruling party while favoring those perceived to support the SNS.
Serbian Authorities Yet to Respond
According to KRIK, the Serbian Embassy in Vienna did not respond to journalists’ questions, instead referring them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also failed to provide a response.
The revelations come just ahead of Serbia’s October 25 parliamentary elections. Vienna is one of the most important centers of the Serbian diaspora, with approximately 100,000 Serbian emigrants living in the Austrian capital.
KRIK’s investigation raises serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process outside Serbia, particularly the potential use of unofficial networks and party affiliations to influence diaspora voters’ participation and political choices.
The allegations reported by KRIK have not, on the information presented, been established as legal findings. Their full implications would depend on further verification and any investigation by the relevant authorities.
