The President of the Serbian List, Zlatan Elek, said that during the day he will file an appeal with the Election Panel for Complaints and Complaints, and that he expects the decision of the Central Election Commission of Kosovo (CEC), by which this party is not certified to participate in the elections on February 9, cancel.
At the press conference in North Mitrovica, Elek assessed that with this decision of the Central Election Commission, Kosovo Prime Minister Aljbin Kurti wanted to "eliminate" them from the election battle.
"This is institutional and legal violence against the Serbian people, against the Serbian List, because Kurti does not want to see the representatives of the Serbian List in the Kosovo Parliament, but wants the Serbs to be obedient in that Parliament," said Elek.
Elek also said that he is proud that he said "Long live Serbia" instead of "Long live Kosovo" in the video clip, in which the Serbian Party presents its candidates for parliament.
"I am telling you today that I am proud of being a Serb, that I spoke those words and I firmly stand behind those words," added Elek.
He also pointed out that the term Kosovo and Metohija is also used by the leaders of other Serbian political parties, but that only the Serbian List is criticized because it is "a thorn in the side of Kurti".
On Monday, the Central Election Commission did not certify the Serbian List for participation in the parliamentary elections on February 9, because two CEC members from the ruling party, the Self-Determination Movement - Sami Kurteši and Aljban Krasnići - opposed it.
Explaining this decision, Kurteši said that the Serbian List does not recognize Kosovo as a state, and that it regularly uses the term Kosovo and Metohija or "Long Live Serbia".
This decision was made despite the fact that the Office for Registration and Confirmation of Political Entities recommended the certification of the Serbian List for participation in the February 9 elections.
Serbian List is the largest party of Kosovo Serbs and has the support of Belgrade.
Kurteši made a series of criticisms of the Serbian List when it comes to the relationship with the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and their former vice-president of the party Milan Radoičić, who resigned when he took responsibility for the armed attack in Banjska. In that attack last September, which Kosovo characterized as terrorist, one policeman was killed.
Kurteši underlined that Srpska lista never distanced itself from this attack, nor condemned it.
Osmani says that the Serbian List participated in terrorist acts
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani assessed that Srpska lista deals with acts of terrorism, acts of aggression and violation of the constitutional order, the Cabinet of the Presidency of Kosovo stated in several responses to Radio Free Europe.
According to her cabinet, Osmani said that the CEC should decide independently.
"Every decision made by the CEC must be respected, as part of the commitment to the rule of law and the preservation of institutional integrity," said Osmani.
At the press conference, the Prime Minister of Kosovo was asked to comment on Osmani's statement and the possibility of declaring the Serbian List a terrorist organization. He said that the Kosovo authorities have declared groups such as the Northern Brigade and the Civil Defense as terrorists, but that the Serbian List is different in character, so it is not classified as a terrorist organization. same category.
"However, the prosecution and security authorities, especially the State Prosecutor's Office and the courts, must clarify much more, and quickly bring justice even to the possible connections between the Civil Defense and the Northern Brigade on the one hand and the Serbian List on the other," Kurti said.
The head of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Petar Petković, said that Osmani's "shameful" statement only confirms that the CEC's decision was political and that it was made on Kurt's order.
"Vjosa and Kurti know neither democracy nor the rule of law. With this attitude, Pristina shows that the Serbian List and the unity of the Serbs are a thorn in its side. Therefore, the Serbian List must win," said Petković on the X network.
In the meantime, the international community expressed its concern that the process of certifying political entities is "politically motivated", and called on Srpska Lista to exercise its right and address the Electoral Panel for Appeals and Complaints.
The US Embassy in Pristina assessed that "it is necessary that voters, not political bodies, decide who represents them".
The Ambassador of Germany in Kosovo, Jern Rode, said that equal application of the law is necessary for everyone, and that the certification process should not be politicized.
Similar reactions were sent by the European Union and the OSCE Mission.
Non-governmental organizations that monitor election processes indicated that the Central Election Commission made a decision "contrary to the law and other applicable regulations."
In this context, Eugen Cakoli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute assessed that the CEC's decision is only for daily political use.
He indicated that, if the Serbian List addresses the Election Panel for Appeals and Complaints, it will be certified and the CEC's decision will be annulled.
The February 9 elections will be the first regular parliamentary elections to be held in Kosovo since its declaration of independence in 2008.
The Serbian List previously announced that it will participate in the elections, after a two-year boycott of political processes in Kosovo.
In addition to the Serbian List, five other political entities representing the Serbian community applied to participate in the parliamentary elections on February 9.
These are the political parties Serbian Democracy, the Serbian People's Movement, For Freedom, Justice and Survival, the Party of Kosovo Serbs and the Civic Initiative Narodna Pravda.
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