Serbian opposition leader Dragan Đilas has raised alarm over what he described as “almost wartime conditions” during local elections in Mionica, accusing pro-government structures of orchestrating intimidation, property damage, and harassment against opposition candidates.
In a post on X, Đilas shared a video detailing reported incidents in Mionica — as well as other parts of Serbia — over the past week, calling the situation deeply disturbing and unprecedented for local elections.
According to Đilas, unidentified individuals broke into and robbed the home of Milan Gavrilović, known by the nickname Ćićovan, who heads the opposition list in Mionica. Opposition candidates were allegedly visited at their homes by organized groups, while Gavrilović was also targeted with a mocking and insulting song circulated online.
Đilas said the psychological pressure took a severe toll on Gavrilović, stating that on the night the offensive song appeared, the candidate fell seriously ill.
“He was found the next morning barely alive. Thanks to the help of good people and the dedicated work of doctors, he has been out of life-threatening danger since yesterday,” Đilas wrote.
Local elections are being held today in Mionica, Negotin, and Sečanj, amid concerns from civil society and independent observers about the escalating climate of fear and political violence in parts of Serbia. Critics argue that Serbia’s ruling establishment continues to blur the line between state power and party machinery, enabling patterns of intimidation that undermine democratic processes.
