The Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren has initiated criminal investigations into suspected vote manipulation following significant discrepancies identified during the vote recount process.
The Chief Prosecutor of Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu, confirmed to Reporteri.net that he has issued formal authorization to the Kosovo Police to identify responsible individuals and secure relevant evidence, including official records and signatures, after clear signs of vote misuse were detected.
“As an institution of the State Prosecutor, we have externally monitored the vote recount process. As the recount nears completion, evident abuses of votes during the internal counting within political entities in the Prizren region have been identified,” Kryeziu stated.
He emphasized that the authorization was issued on his own initiative, instructing police to collect evidence and determine accountability.
“Anyone who has falsified election results by placing their signature and altering the will of the citizens will bear full criminal responsibility. Vote manipulation and falsification of electoral documents are crimes and will be punished without compromise,” the Chief Prosecutor warned.
The discrepancies continue to grow significantly, with the largest differences observed among candidates of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). During the recount:
- 5,857 votes were removed from PDK candidate Fetah Paçariqi
- 3,318 votes were removed from Nait Hasani
- More than 2,000 votes were removed from Kujtim Gashi
- More than 2,000 votes were removed from Luljeta Veselaj Gutaj
In response, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) stated that any indication of vote interference or manipulation is unacceptable, reaffirming its commitment to electoral integrity and respect for voters’ will.
Meanwhile, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has called for a nationwide recount of votes, a demand also echoed by LDK official Hykmete Bajrami.
