5 hours agoReuters reports of mass arrests of voter counterfeits: Major shame for Kosovo aimed at EU membership
Periskopi(6 months ago)
(6 months ago)Today, the Constitutional Prosecutor in Prizren has conducted an action on allegations of vote manipulation, which has resulted in 109 detained persons who have largely served as commissioners in counting votes. In this regard, the renowned news agency Reuters reported. This case [...] is said to be reported
In this regard, the renowned agency has reported News, Reuters. In reporting on the latter, it is said that this case is seen as a major project for Kosovo, as a new country, which also aims to join the European Union.
From Reuters it is also stressed that, the Central Election Commission, has declared that initial investigations were launched two weeks ago.
Full report:
More than 100 people have been detained under suspicion of manipulation of votes from the December 28th elections in Kosovo, prosecutors said, amid investigations that have prompted the recounting of votes and that could delay forming a new government.
The investigations are not expected to overturn the prime minister's party's victory in office, Albin Kurti, after prosecutors said the suspects are accused of passing votes among candidates within the lists of the same party, not among different parties under the proportional representation system.
However, they were seen as a great shame for the new country, which aims to join the European Union.
Kurt's office did not immediately respond to a comment request. Bedri Hamza, head of the country's second largest movement, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, called the differences “equally disturbing”.
Kosovo's Central Election Commission said it had launched initial investigations two weeks ago, as video verifications from some counting centres showed irregularities.
On Monday, he ordered the full recount of the vote, saying problems had been found in several locations.
On Friday, Chief Prosecutor in the southern town of Prizren Petrit Kryeziu said 109 suspects had been detained under suspicion that they had changed votes to favour candidates appointed to lists drawn up by individual parties.
The suspects were officials, known as election commissioners, elected by parties to count votes under the Kosovo electoral system. Some were suspected of taking bribes, and according to Kryeziu, officials from all four main parties must have been involved.
The “would have been impossible to change these votes if it hadn't been compromised by commissioners to do so by the four largest parties,” said Kryeziu during a press conference.
“Now we have cooperative witnesses who have explained the methods of pressure exercised against them, and some have discovered details of who received and who offered bribes,” he added.
Similar arrests are expected in other cities, Reuters officials told them.
“Manipulation of votes for parliamentary candidates is a great shame for Kosovo,” said political commentator Ilir Deda. It has eroded public confidence in election processes. ”
On Friday, the election commission said it had recounted more than half the votes, and so far only one candidate had lost his mandate in favour of another candidate from the same party as a result.
Most candidates reportedly benefited from additional votes have denied any wrongdoing.
