Belgrade, Serbia — The European Union expressed concern over reports of violence during local elections on Tuesday serbia on weekends and called President Alexander Vucic officials to punish the attackers.
Delegation of the European Union to Serbia – a candidate country for membership in the 27-nation bloc – Cited findings of international monitors Who said they witnessed violence and irregularities during voting on Sunday.
“We regret the number of alleged irregularities and incidents during the elections, the uneven playing field, and are concerned at reports of acts of violence against independent observers, citizens, political party representatives and media workers,” the EU said in a statement.
“We call on the competent national authorities to ensure prompt and transparent follow-up and hold the perpetrators accountable,” the statement said.
Serbia voted on Sunday in 10 cities across the country. It was seen as a test for the autocratic leader Vucic His tight grip on power has been shaken after more than a year of youth-led street protests.
Vucic declared victory for his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party in all 10 municipalities. The Serbian President himself led the campaign after the protests first began in November 2024, seeking to reaffirm his rule. railway station tragedy In the north of the country.
Election observers from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe said on Monday that while the voting itself was in line with the rules, they were “concerned” by the situation outside the polling stations.
Observers observed “heated debates and the dangerous presence of large groups of people, often unidentified and sometimes masked,” the group said.
The Associated Press asked the Serbian government for comment on the allegations but has not yet received a response.
Clashes in at least three towns left several people injured, including students and journalists who said they were attacked by organized pro-government supporters. Vucic has accused his opponents of inciting unrest.
While he formally says he wants Serbia to join the EU, Vucic has been accused of curbing democratic freedoms because of his close ties to Russia and China.
Youth-led protests over the collapse of a Novi Sad railway station roof that killed 16 people have posed the biggest challenge to Vucic’s rule in more than a decade. Authorities have escalated the pressure on dissent, with hundreds of people detained by police or reported losing their jobs.
On Tuesday, police raided the headquarters of the University of Belgrade, saying they were investigating the death of a student last week. Employees told local media that they thought the raid was part of ongoing pressure Following student-led protests at the university.
Serbia is expected to hold presidential and parliamentary elections late this year or next year. Support for Vucic is considered are destroyed However, large-scale protests have subsided in recent months.
