NGOs from the north rejected for election monitoring: What does Pristina want to hide?

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from northern Kosovo expressed regret and protest because they were denied the right to have accredited observers watch the elections in North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavic, and Zvecan. As stated in a media release, they consider this decision by the Central Election Commission as discrimination and confirmation that democracy and transparency in the electoral process do not exist in Kosovo society.

They say that this decision was made despite all the documentation being submitted for observer accreditation and despite their experience in election monitoring and their contribution to the overall social community.

"As NGOs that have existed and worked in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok for years, and especially as NGOs that have participated in previous election cycles, we express regret and protest that we have been denied the right to have accredited observers in the elections in these municipalities," the statement said.

They believe that it is unacceptable that organizations that have been following election processes for years are rejected without any explanation in the modern world of the 21st century.

As stated in the release, since they have not been allowed to participate in the election process for the first time, they have sent questions to the CEC, as well as to all ambassadors and the entire international community.

"Why are NGOs that have participated in previous election cycles not allowed to have accredited observers? What is it that the CEC and Pristina want to hide from the eyes of observers and the people? Are these elections, organized in such a distorted way, really legal?" the non-governmental organizations from northern Kosovo asked.

They note that they have lodged complaints with the Election Commission for Requests and Complaints and have announced that they will seek an explanation for this decision from the CEC.

"We believe that such actions do not contribute to the development of democracy, and the rejection of NGOs only shows that democracy and transparency in the electoral process do not exist in this society," the NGOs stated.

It should be noted that European observers, the OSCE, and embassies have regularly been present at the elections, and it has been announced that only two observers from the British Embassy will monitor this election.