3-9 February 2024
European Parliament adopts Resolution on Serbian elections. On 8 February, Members of the European Parliament adopted a Resolution calling for an independent international investigation into the Serbian parliamentary, provincial and local elections’ irregularities, with special attention to the City of Belgrade Assembly elections. European Parliament noted that certain allegations, including those regarding organized voter migrations on the local level, extend beyond the scope covered by the OSCE/ODIHR reports and adds that it supports the prompt deployment of an ad hoc fact-finding mission to Serbia, with the participation of the European Parliament. (European Western Balkans, 8 February 2024)
Vučić accuses foreigners, NGOs, media of waging hybrid war. Speaking live on the pro-government TV Happy on 5 February, Vučić drew a diagram on a blackboard to illustrate his point, claiming that the media are used against him in a war financed from abroad by the great powers, countries in the region, political circles and NGOs. (N1 Belgrade, 5 February 2024)
Protest at Appeals Court over acquittal for journalist Slavko Ćuruvija’s murder. A crowd of hundreds gathered in front of the Appeals Court in Belgrade to express dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling to acquit four men indicted, tried and found guilty by the basic court of the 1999 assassination of newspaper publisher Slavko Ćuruvija. Ćuruvija, publisher of a daily newspaper and magazines, was critical of the Milošević regime. The protest was organized by the Slavko Ćuruvija foundation and several journalist and media organizations. (RTS (Serbian), 5 February 2024)
UNSC permanent members call on Kosovo to delay decision on dinar ban. The UN Security Council held on 8 February in New York an urgent session to address the Kosovo government’s decision to ban the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo. The UN Security Council permanent members expressed reservations about its plan to unilaterally and without consultation with partners ban the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo, and called for the measure to be delayed. (N1 Belgrade, 9 February 2024)
Vučić to Pistorius: We are ready to accept OSCE / ODIHR recommendations. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that he is prepared to accept recommendations from the OSCE and ODIHR but added that the December elections were very fair, after a meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Pistorius stated that, in addition to elections, they spoke about dialogue with Kosovo, Russia and the security situation in the region. (NIN (Serbian), 7 February 2024)
