Director of the Office for Kosovo, Petar Petković, stated at a rally in Niš that the participation of internally displaced Serbs in the upcoming October 12 local elections in Kosovo is of crucial importance. He emphasized that “a victory for Srpska Lista means a victory for national interests and the survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo.”
The event was also attended by Niš Mayor Dragoslav Pavlović, Deputy Commissioner for Refugees and Displaced Persons Dušica Popović, and Miloš Stojković from the All-Orthodox National Council.
Petković thanked local authorities in Niš for their continued support of displaced Serbs from Kosovo and stressed that he has been traveling across central Serbia to meet with displaced persons and encourage them to participate in the elections.
However, his remarks have sparked criticism. Petković not only called on people who no longer live in Kosovo to cast their vote, but also insisted they vote exclusively for Srpska Lista, describing it as the “only legitimate representative of the Serbian people in Kosovo.”
Other Serbian political parties participating in the local elections denounced this as political pressure and interference, accusing Petković and the Serbian government of attempting to suppress political pluralism among Serbs in Kosovo. According to them, such statements effectively discourage democratic choice by demanding absolute support for a single party.
Petković argued that regaining control of all 10 Serb-majority municipalities is vital to resisting what he called “the terror of Albin Kurti over Serbs.” He also claimed that a Srpska Lista victory would secure the continuation of infrastructure, financial, and social projects funded by the Serbian government, while aligning with President Aleksandar Vučić.
“To avoid Kurti’s traps and divisions, it is crucial for our people from Niš, central Serbia, and beyond to stand united and ensure a convincing victory for Srpska Lista,” he concluded.
