- The March 29, 2026 local elections in Serbia were heavily marred by systemic irregularities, voter intimidation, and physical violence.
- President Aleksandar Vučić declared a total victory for his ruling coalition, despite widespread condemnation from independent observers regarding the lack of democratic standards.
Electoral Irregularities
- Voting occurred in ten municipalities, including Bor, Kula, and Bajina Bašta, with turnout reaching approximately 60 percent.
- The CRTA (Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability) observed consistent patterns of compromised ballot secrecy, parallel record-keeping, and organized voter transportation, suggesting coercion.
Violence and Intimidation
- Observers noted an alarming escalation in physical attacks against journalists, students, activists, and observers, particularly in Bor, Kula, and Bajina Bašta.
- Specific incidents included:
- A group of masked attackers armed with axes severely beating two journalists, a photographer, and an activist.
- Masked individuals at a stadium in Kula injuring several people with metal bars, stones, and flares.
- The presence of the Russian biker group “Night Wolves” in Aranđelovac, who intimidated citizens while operating vehicles with covered license plates.
- The destruction of observer vehicles and the use of firearms in Bajina Bašta.
- Observers and media reports highlight that police largely refused to intervene or investigate these assaults, even when perpetrators were identified or nearby.
Consequences and Demands
- Raša Nedeljkov, head of the CRTA observation mission, stated that the failure of the Ministry of Interior to guarantee basic safety signals a complete erosion of electoral freedom.
- The Youth Initiative for Human Rights has demanded the immediate prosecution of those responsible for the attacks and has called for an urgent session of the National Assembly’s Internal Affairs Committee to investigate police conduct.