Not certified by CEC: Serbian List expected to complain at PZAP

Serbian List Chairman Zlatko Ellek said the CEC's decision is undemocratic and anti-Serb.

“During the day we will file complaints at PZAP and expect a clear decision that will reject this absurd, anti-Serb and undemocratic decision of [Albin] Kurti”, Serbian List leader Zlatko Ellek said at a news conference.

Ellek said the CEC's decision was ordered by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, of whom he said “wants to eliminate Serbs from these lands”.

“This is institutional and legal violence against the Serbian people and the Serbian List, because Kurti does not want to see Serb List deputies in the Kosovo Parliament, but wants to have Serbs convinced as so-called minister, Mr. [Nenad] Rasphe”, Ellek stressed.

CEC does not certificate Serbian List for voter turnout

The Central Election Commission (KQZ) on Monday did not certified the Serbian List for participation in the February 9th parliamentary elections, as two members of the CEC from the ruling Vetevendosje Movement Sami Kurteshi and Albin Krasniqi voted against.

Reasoning on this decision, Kurteshi said the Serbian List does not recognise Kosovo as a state and regularly uses the term “Kosovo and Metohia” or the phrase “Roft Serbia. ”

But, responding to Kurteshi's claims, the head of the Serbian List, Ellek, said the term “Kosovo and Metohia is completely legal because it represents a” cannon.

And, the fact that instead of the Republic of Kosovo, I said "Long live the Republic of Serbia." Behold, I tell you this day clearly that, first of all, I am proud to be a Serb and proud to speak those words. I stand by every word pronounced”, Ellek said.

The Serbian List's non-certification decision was made despite the fact that the Office for Registering and Verification of Political Subjects had recommended the Certificate of the Serbian List for the February 9th elections.

However, at Monday's meeting, Kurteshi raised numerous criticisms of the Serbian List, including her ties with Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, and former party deputy Milan Radojic, who resigned after taking responsibility for the armed attack on Banjska.

Kosovo named the terrorist act the attack in which police sergeant Africa Bulnjak was killed.

West Expresses Concern for Serbian List Neglect

Meanwhile, the international community voiced concern that the process of Certificate of political subjects is being influenced by political motives and called for the Serbian List to exercise its right to address the Election Panel for Anxiety and Parashtes.

The US Embassy in Pristina stated that “is necessary for voters, not political organs, to decide who represents”.

Germany's ambassador to Kosovo, Jörn Rohde, stressed that an equal implementation of the law for all is necessary, and that the certificate process should not be politicised.

Similar reactions came from the European Union and the OSCE Mission.

Nongovernmental organisations monitoring election processes estimated the CEC made a decision “contrary to law and other regulations in force. ”

The February 9th elections will be the first regular parliamentary elections held in Kosovo since the declaration of independence in 2008.

The Serbian list has earlier indicated that it will participate in the elections after a two-year boycott of political processes in Kosovo.

In addition to the Serbian List, five political subjects representing the Serb community have been registered for participation in the February 9th parliamentary elections: Serbian Democracy, the Serbian National Movement for Freedom, Justice and Survival, the Party of Kosovo Serbs and the Civic Initiative for People's Justice. / REL