Jevtic: Arrest of Serbs in Gracanica an attempt by Kurti to help Rasic ahead of elections

Vice President of the Serb List Dalibor Jevtic stated that the arrest of Serbs in Gracanica constitutes institutional violence and an attempt by Albin Kurti to help Nenad Rasic ahead of the parliamentary elections, RTS reported.

Speaking to Radio Belgrade, Jevtic also pointed to the undermining of equality in the electoral process through the elimination of Serb List representatives from municipal election commissions.

He stressed that this event represents a precedent and a direct attempt by Kosovo’s caretaker prime minister Albin Kurti to provide political support to Nenad Rasic ahead of the elections scheduled for June 7.

“Nowhere in the world does it happen that, because of internal disciplinary measures within certain institutions, someone sends police armed with long guns and imprisons the directors and heads of those institutions in order to carry out something that has already been taking place for some time now — namely institutional violence,” Jevtic said, as reported by RTS.

He emphasized that Nenad Rasic, by demanding the detention of employees in Serbian educational and healthcare institutions, had taken a step toward Albin Kurti’s goal — the violent and forced integration of those institutions into the Kosovo system.

“However, what Nenad Rasic, as a rejected member of our people, can in no way understand — just like Albin Kurti cannot understand — is that under these circumstances and in situations like these, the Serbian people become united,” the vice president of the Serb List stressed, expressing full support for those arrested and their families.

During the election campaign, the position of the Serbian community has been additionally complicated by the fact that Serb List representatives will be present in only 14 out of 38 municipal election commissions, which, according to Jevtic, violates the legally prescribed rules regarding the number of members in polling boards.

Jevtic explained that this is part of a tactic aimed at eliminating the Serb List from the democratic process and favoring those whom, as he said, the Serbian people do not want. According to him, this opens the door for Albanians to vote again in areas where there are no Serbs, such as Djakovica, and for mandates to be taken away from the Serbian people.

“A major absurdity is that this is being allowed once again, but what is particularly concerning is the lack of reaction from the international community, both regarding this issue and regarding the arrests and detentions of Serbs that took place yesterday in Gracanica and central Kosovo and Metohija,” Jevtic warned.

Although a list containing some new names was submitted a week ago, Jevtic stressed that the Serb List’s primary goal remains unchanged — protecting the interests and position of the Serbian people in Kosovo, while maintaining strong ties with official Belgrade.

“Without that connection, without the support we receive from official Belgrade, the survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija would certainly be significantly more difficult,” Jevtic said, adding that the struggle is based on the unity of the people and cooperation with the Government of Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic.

Commenting on the fact that elections in Kosovo are being repeated for the third time in less than a year and a half, Jevtic acknowledged that citizens are tired, but not of voting — rather of constant pressure, threats, and institutional violence by the regime in Pristina.

He also recalled the situation on March 15, when, through the actions of the Serb List, an attempt to implement the Law on Foreigners was prevented, the purpose of which, he said, was the displacement of Serbian doctors and professors.

Serbs in Kosovo view the upcoming parliamentary elections as an opportunity to correct the injustice of the previous elections, when, according to Jevtic, one mandate was stolen from them.

Calling on citizens to circle number 119 on the ballot, Jevtic expressed confidence that the people would send a clear message that Kurti and Rasic would not succeed in their intention to expel Serbs.

Interpreting Albin Kurti’s announcements regarding the formation of a gendarmerie force that would be deployed to the north, Jevtic assessed that these were methods of manipulation as part of an unofficial pre-election campaign. The goal, he said, is to raise the rating of Self-Determination so that Kurti could govern independently.

“Rattling weapons has never been, and never will be, a method by which one side will elevate and strengthen itself while humiliating and weakening the other; rather, it affects everyone. I firmly believe that the majority population also has enough awareness to say: ‘Enough wars, enough conflicts, we want to live better, we want to live in peace,’” Jevtic stated.

He added that the Serb List has no problem with the Albanian people, but exclusively with Albin Kurti and his actions, and that it will continue its fight for peace, stability, economic prosperity, and a normal life for ordinary people.