The Basic Court in Pristina has convicted Saša Mirković, former deputy mayor of Kllokot, sentencing him to one year in prison for interfering with the free determination of voters.
The presiding judge, Lutfi Shala, announced the verdict on Wednesday. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a two-year ban on holding public office or working in public administration.
Mirković was also ordered to pay 100 euros for court costs, 100 euros for judicial fees, and 100 euros to the Victims Compensation Fund.
Details of the Case
According to the indictment filed on August 14, 2023, by the Special Prosecutor of Kosovo (PSRK), between January and February 2021, Mirković, in his capacity as deputy mayor, along with then-mayor Bozhidar Dejanović and others, threatened Serbian citizens in Kllokot to influence their votes during the Early Parliamentary Elections held on February 14, 2021.
The indictment states that Dejanović and Mirković pressured citizens by threatening job loss and social benefit penalties to ensure votes for specific political parties, including the Serb List and the political entity numbered 129 “Ujedinjina Zajdenica – Ardiana Hoxhiq”.
Mirković was charged with violating Article 210 of the Criminal Code of Kosovo, a crime punishable by one to five years in prison, for coercing voters to vote in a predetermined way.
“The accused, in cooperation with others, exerted serious threats to manipulate voting behavior, using their official positions to secure votes illegally,” the indictment reads.
This verdict marks a significant judicial step in addressing electoral corruption and voter intimidation in Kosovo, especially in municipalities with politically sensitive populations.
