In a joint press conference with the Minister for Communities and Return, Nenad Rašić, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Serbia of interfering in Kosovo’s elections. He stated that the state had identified “seven state and non-state actors from Serbia” involved in this interference.
“The first is the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić,” Kurti said, also mentioning Milan Radoičić, Serbia’s chief negotiator for the dialogue with Kosovo, Petar Petković, the Serbian Intelligence Agency (BIA), Serbian media controlled by Belgrade, and several illegal structures.
He called Serbia’s interference a “violation of democracy,” adding that “Serbia is attempting to hold our country hostage, not only in its internal political development but also in advancing international relations.”
Kurti emphasized that due to the improved security in the four northern municipalities, which has resulted from the rule of law, the fight against criminal and terrorist groups, and the closure of illegal structures, the forms of interference have changed.
“Brutal, physical interference, including beatings and killings, is no longer possible. Instead, other forms of hybrid threats have increased, primarily financial inducements, blackmail, intimidation, and cyberattacks,” he said.
The Prime Minister stated that Serbian President Vučić himself had encouraged any Serbian state or non-state actor to be involved in Kosovo’s elections.
“For this purpose, the executive role was held by the chief terrorist Milan Radoičić, the man who took on tasks for Kosovo from the President of Serbia,” Kurti concluded.
He also noted that Kosovo institutions had evidence of these interferences, with law enforcement closing some so-called “social centers” on February 21 this year. These centers were reportedly used to bribe or blackmail voters.
