The Minister for Communities and Returns in the Government of Kosovo, Nenad Rašić, has accused Srpska lista of what he described as “systemic and mass oppression” of Serbs in Kosovo ahead of the upcoming elections, claiming that pressure is being exerted through institutions, threats of dismissal, and intimidation of employees in Serbian institutions.
Speaking at a Government of Kosovo session, Rašić said that “since 13 years ago when Srpska lista officially appeared on Kosovo’s political scene,” he did not expect “anything democratic or positive from them,” adding that according to him, methods of pressure “are becoming more cruel and brutal with every election.”
He stated that over the past two weeks, “our compatriots have been systematically and massively oppressed by institutions that present themselves as representatives of the State Intelligence and Security Agency.”
As an example, Rašić mentioned a case involving an employee of the Leposavić municipality who, according to him, was detained at the Serbia–Kosovo crossing for more than five hours together with her family.
“Two days ago, one of our associates, an employee of the Leposavić municipality, was held with her husband and three minor children for more than five hours. Those individuals who came identified themselves as members of the State Intelligence and Security Agency, and they were only interested in one thing—me,” Rašić said.
He added that “it is unimaginable that three children aged four to ten can be held for five hours at the border simply because they are trying to find out what I do in the ministry or in the government.”
Rašić further claimed that employees in Serbian institutions are under pressure and threats of dismissal, being taken to locations near Merdare where, according to him, they are forced to explain whom they will vote for in the June 7 elections.
“There are groups of organized workers employed in Serbian institutions who are forced under pressure and threat of losing their jobs to go to certain facilities on the other side of the border near Merdare, where they are held for several hours in basements or dark rooms, and where they must precisely explain whom they will vote for on June 7, and especially which numbers they will circle, and they are under no circumstances allowed to vote for me,” he said.
Regarding dismissals, Rašić stated that “around twenty people have already been fired from their jobs today, mostly in health centers and schools,” adding that he possesses a copy of a dismissal decision from the health center in Donja Gušterica.
According to him, the decision states that the employee “for a prolonged period publicly expressed political views contrary to the interests of the Serb population in Kosovo and Metohija living within an institutional system that does not recognize the Republic of Kosovo.”
Rašić added that social media activity was also cited as a reason for dismissal.
“On social media, he promoted nationalism and spread hate speech prohibited by law, in order to achieve personal political goals and thereby directly damage the employer’s reputation. In other words, he liked our posts… Furthermore, the decision states that the employee should have been aware that his behavior, even outside working hours—because we once had a joint lunch and were photographed—could harm the employer’s reputation and could be sanctioned in accordance with the law,” Rašić said while reading the decision.
Commenting on the wording of the decision, Rašić said he does not know “whether Goebbels was aware of such methods,” adding that the person who drafted the document “is not even a lawyer.”
Rašić called on Kosovo institutions to respond to what he described as “mass oppression and human rights violations.”
He also urged Deputy Prime Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz to increase institutional vigilance in order to protect citizens.
In conclusion, Rašić said his team would do everything possible to protect those allegedly affected by pressure.
“We will do everything in our power to preserve the minimum of their rights and dignity,” he said.
