Zogaj: If the Serb List is barred from elections, Kosovo will face U.S. sanctions

Political analyst Petrit Zogaj warned that if the Serb List is not allowed to participate in the October 12 local elections, Kosovo will come under U.S. sanctions, with caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti being “the first on that list, just like Milorad Dodik in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

In a Facebook post, Zogaj wrote that the “last card left for the supreme leader” is the attempt to exclude the Serb List from the upcoming local elections. He pointed out that this was the reason behind the sharp warning issued by the U.S. Embassy in Pristina.

“Isolated as never before—both inside and outside Kosovo—Kurti will try to undertake other ‘nationalist’ maneuvers in order to maintain a militant structure that would serve him in the upcoming local and parliamentary elections. If such an attempt is made, namely preventing the Serb List from participating in the elections, Kosovo will, without a doubt, be subjected to U.S. sanctions, with Kurti as the first official on that list, similar to Dodik in Bosnia,” Zogaj stated.

He added that such a move would be “the greatest service the Government of Kosovo could do for Serbia and its agenda against Kosovo.”

Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission is holding a session today with the proposal to certify the Serb List for participation in the October 12 elections on the agenda.

Earlier in the day, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Pristina, Anu Pratipati, met with caretaker Prime Minister Kurti, making it clear that it is of paramount importance for Kosovo Serbs to take part in the elections.

“I spoke with the caretaker Prime Minister about the steps that we understand he and Self-Determination are considering, relating to the exclusion of certain political parties from the upcoming local elections. Let me be clear—we believe that all citizens of Kosovo must have the full opportunity to choose their representatives. It is very important for Kosovo Serbs to be included in this process, and we are concerned by any attempt to restrict their participation. I clearly conveyed these views to the caretaker Prime Minister and underlined the close attention of the United States to this issue,” Pratipati said.