Milovic: Another layer of pressure on Serbs, the Serb List will continue its peaceful and democratic struggle

Vice President of the Serb List, Dragisa Milovic, stated that the summoning of representatives of the party by the Special Prosecutor's Office is intended to continue the campaign against the Serbian people and sends a message that anyone who participated in the December 2022 protests can be accused of attacking the constitutional order of Kosovo. Milovic appealed to the international community to stop the persecution of Serbs from Kosovo, stressing that the Serbian people must not be discriminated against.

Milovic said on RTS's Morning News that the questioning of Zlatan Elek, leader of the Serb List, scheduled for today, was postponed due to the illness of his attorney.

He pointed out that the Special Prosecutor's Office in Pristina has summoned dozens of Serbs, members and representatives of the Serb List, and that the goal is to add yet another layer of pressure on Serbs from northern Kosovo.

“Dr. Zlatan Elek is being accused of attacking the constitutional order of Kosovo merely because he participated in peaceful protests with hundreds of his compatriots. If someone like Elek, an esteemed doctor, surgeon, and professor at the Faculty of Medicine, is targeted, the message being sent is clear: anyone who attended the December 2022 protests can be accused of the same. I’m certain some of our people will not be able to withstand this psychological pressure and will leave their ancestral homes. Let me remind you, since Albin Kurti came to power, many Serbs have left northern Kosovo, not because of poor economic or social conditions, but because of a deep sense of insecurity and hopelessness about their children’s future,” Milovic said.
He noted that some analysts call this a mild form of ethnic persecution, systematic discrimination, and that in his opinion, Serbs are in the worst position since 1999, forced to fight for the survival of those who remain.

Milovic emphasized the political motivation behind this, especially ahead of local elections scheduled for October. He recalled that the Serb List was also under attack during the campaign for the parliamentary elections held on February 9.

“We are being labeled as terrorists, fascists, criminals. Despite all of that, we are prepared to win the nine guaranteed mandates and enjoy the broadest support among the Serb population in Kosovo and Metohija. Clearly, that doesn’t sit well with Mr. Albin Kurti. He once said a historical opportunity was missed to ban the Serb List. Since that didn't happen, there seems to be an effort to eliminate the Serb List through political processes, in order to make room for other, Kurti-aligned Serbs in the upcoming local elections. He doesn’t want the Serb List, he wants his own Serbs. I hope his plans will not succeed,” Milovic emphasized.

Speaking about the arrest and deportation of four Serbs, Milovic described it as a blatant violation of basic human rights.

“So far, the international community, aside from general statements and saying they are monitoring the situation, hasn’t reacted concretely. Even OSCE representatives say they learned about the situation from the media and social networks. UNICEF and the German Embassy also say they are monitoring the situation. I must mention that the basic legal rights of our people, the right to trial and defense, were simply violated because Mr. Svecla gave himself the right to act as judge, without evidence or a trial. That's how he found a way to deport our compatriots. By doing so, he ensured that their families would leave with them. I use this opportunity to appeal to the international community: Serbs must not be discriminated against. Sadly, the international community is imposing a policy of double standards. Let’s remember, Serbia and Montenegro were bombed for allegedly violating the human rights of Albanians. So, what happens today when the basic rights of Serbs are endangered? Apart from general statements, we see no concrete response. To conclude, I appeal to the international community to stop what is happening in Kosovo and Metohija. They must get involved,” he said.

Milovic stressed that the Serb List will continue to support the Serbian people despite all pressures, attempts, and threats, and that it will persist in a peaceful and democratic struggle to reclaim fundamental human rights – the right to life, freedom of movement, healthcare, education, and property.

“We emphasize all of this in our talks with EU representatives, Quint ambassadors, and other international actors. We constantly stress that we have nothing against the Albanian people. We have lived with them, still live with them, and hope to continue living in peace. But we will certainly point out the negative, discriminatory policies of Mr. Albin Kurti. We will also insist that all signed and agreed-upon agreements, guaranteed by the EU, be implemented, especially the Community of Serb Municipalities. We will insist on this, because 12 years have passed and nothing has happened. What Kurti and his government are doing is an attempt to erase the Community and destroy everything that was agreed upon, leaving only an empty shell of a homeland. We must seek the support of the Republic of Serbia as well, but above all, we must be strong, wise, and united,” Milovic said.

Commenting on the 33rd failed attempt to constitute the Kosovo Parliament, Milovic said this bodes nothing good for the Serbs, and that the clearest image of the situation is when a Kosovo police officer is seen choking a Serbian high school graduate in North Mitrovica.

“This situation is nearly unbearable, even for Albanians. I don't think it brings anything good for them either. We see no new jobs being created. People are leaving for Western Europe. Doctors, nurses, citizens, workers, professors – they are all suffering. This is a difficult situation. As for Kurti, he is pursuing his own agenda. I believe he is now entering into a political campaign that is already underway, both for local and apparently also for parliamentary elections,” Milovic concluded.