Allegations of fraud in Serbian elections: Opposition politician on strike for 9 days

Marinika Tepic, a prominent figure in Serbia's main opposition party, has announced that she will continue the hunger strike she began following the early general elections held on December 17.

ACCUSATIONS OF FRAUD

Tepic, who claims that the government committed "widespread electoral fraud" and has been on a hunger strike for nine days, stated that despite the deterioration of her health, she will not follow medical advice and will continue the action she started alongside five other politicians. The "Serbia Against Violence" coalition, of which Tepic is a member, accuses the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of widespread fraud in the elections.

Officials from the current populist, pro-Russian government deny these allegations.

REJECTING MEDICAL ADVICE

After the health of Marinika Tepic, who began a hunger strike with five of her colleagues following the elections, deteriorated on Sunday, she has been receiving intravenous fluids twice a day since Monday. In an interview with Reuters, Tepic said she was expecting a team of doctors but planned to reject further medical advice to end her protest.

"They will probably ask me to stop the hunger strike, and I will ask them to help this struggle continue," said Tepic. "This is a fight for our freedom."

The activists on hunger strike are located in the state election commission office in central Belgrade, which was once used as a parliament building.

Speaking about her children, Tepic could not hold back her tears. Tepic stated, "I tell them that one day you will not be ashamed. We have to secure a better country for our children."

DEMAND FOR NEW ELECTIONS

Accusing officials of including deceased persons on voter lists and importing voters from Bosnia and Kosovo, Tepic continued:

"We are seeking an international mission to review the entire election process. We want the election to be annulled and for new elections to be held within 5 or 6 months under better conditions."

In the Western Balkan country, where early general elections have given way to political tension, the SNS finished the race in first place with 46.72 percent of the vote, according to data from the State Election Commission (RIK).

The Serbia Against Violence coalition came in second with 23.56 percent, and the Socialist Party of Serbia came in third with 6.56 percent of the vote.

In a statement on Monday, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) assessed that the ruling party gained an unfair advantage through means such as media dominance, the influence of President Aleksandar Vucic, and irregularities like vote-buying.

Furthermore, the OSCE announced that many procedural deficiencies were observed during the elections, such as violations of ballot secrecy and group voting.

The Serbia Against Violence coalition began organizing daily protests in front of the Election Commission following the election results.

As the protests turned violent on Sunday evening, 38 people were detained by the police.

The European Commission stated, "Complaints regarding electoral irregularities must be investigated and addressed as required."

CALL FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION

The EU Commission's statement also said, "While the right to peaceful protest is supported, violence is not a solution and is unacceptable. Police actions must be proportionate and respect fundamental rights within the framework of the rule of law. The European Union calls for calm and dialogue."

Meanwhile, opposition parties in Serbia have sent a letter to the EU, requesting assistance for an international investigation into the irregularities in the elections that have caused political tension in a country currently in the EU membership process.

In light of the unofficial data from the RIK, the SNS, led by Aleksandar Vucic, which managed to secure 128 seats in the 250-seat National Assembly, is expected to form the new government alone.

The new government must be formed within 120 days after the announcement of the official results.