The voting process in the northern municipalities has so far proceeded without incidents, while illegal entries from Serbia to vote have been stopped.
Veton Elshani, Deputy Director of the Northern Region, told KosovaPress that since the early morning hours, when the polling stations in the north of the country were opened, no cases requiring investigation have been initiated so far.
“We have had some cases of various verifications that we carried out, such as in Zubin Potok, Leposavić, Soçanica, and other towns, but there is no case to highlight. We are in constant contact with the CEC [Central Election Commission] and the State Prosecutor’s Office,” he said, while explaining the measures taken to prevent illegal entry from Serbia for voting.
“Previously, during past elections, we had information that people were coming through illegal routes, specifically via the Bërnjak bridge, then crossing to us and continuing to the north of the country. We stopped this then, and we have stopped it now as well, proactively. This is why these measures have been taken. We have also coordinated with the Border Police, as there are also boats there, as well as with KFOR. We have not had cases of stopping anyone, as those people were turned back from that route,” he said.
Elshani also commented on the organized voting of the Serbian List.
“In the morning hours, there was also an organized voting, so-called, from ‘Car Lazari’ square and then towards the polling centers. This also happened in other northern municipalities and has been a repeated practice in past elections. For this, we informed the CEC and the State Prosecutor’s Office, but there was no case to open,” he said.
He added that there is a general plan at the level of Kosovo regarding today’s elections, and they are part of that plan, but with some specifics due to being a border area with Serbia.
He also noted that in the north there are many illegal routes, all of which are monitored by the Border Police, and yesterday also by KFOR units, as part of their joint cooperation.
According to him, no incidents have occurred in the north so far.
