Europaudvalget 2019-20
EUU Alm.del Bilag 904
Offentligt
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Emne:
Serbian Opposition Association Letter
–
modtaget den 13/8-2020
FF har fået den
–
omdeles til URU og EUU den 18/8-2020
Fra:
[email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]
Sendt:
13. august 2020 11:24
Til:
Folketingets formand <[email protected]>; Henrik Dam Kristensen <[email protected]>
Cc:
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Emne:
Serbian Opposition Association Letter
Your Excellency,
On behalf of Serbian Opposition Association, I am forwarding to you our letter regarding
the alarming state of affairs in Serbia.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Vuk Jeremic
—————————
Belgrade, August 13th,
2020
Dear Sir,
Democratic and human rights conditions in Serbia are at a historic low point,
unquestionably unbecoming of an EU candidate country. We no longer have a legitimate
parliament, as there is no genuine opposition representation in the current composition of
our highest national legislative body.
We have entered into an advanced stage of state capture in virtually all areas of society,
notably including rule of law, democratic parliamentary practices, implementation of
international recommendations on the conduct of free and fair elections (including those
enumerated by OSCE/ODIHR), the fight against corruption and organized crime, and the
establishment of an enabling environment in which freedom of expression (including media
freedom) can be exercised without hindrance.
As you may be aware, our parliamentary and local “elections” were originally scheduled for
April 26th,
2020.
These were postponed due to the declaration of a state of emergency
regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. During this state of emergency, the political situation
continued to deteriorate. Further offences were committed against Serbia’s Constitution
and the European values that undergird it, which reconfirmed the veracity of our decision
to boycott these “elections.” We assure you that this decision was not taken lightly.
 EUU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 904: Henvendelse af 13/8-20 fra Serbian Opposition Association, vedr. Serbien
Notwithstanding the manifest absence of a sustainable environment for the conduct of free
and fair elections, which included repeated denials of severe epidemiological dangers to
public health caused by the COVID-19
pandemic, the Vučić Government made a
conscious choice to undertake these “elections,” which took place on June 21st,
2020.
At
the start of the campaign, victory over the virus was pompously declared, which led to
sporting events and concerts being held with tens of thousands of participants without the
enforcement of social distancing measures. These fatally irresponsible actions shocked
the conscience of Europe, as did the falsification of official data regarding the resultant
increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases and resulting deaths, as documented by
independent investigative media reports.
Serbia’s democratic opposition has made it clear that we consider both the process and
the
result of these “elections” to be illegitimate.
The egregious irregularities perpetrated by the Vučić Government explain why no official
post-“election”
statement by any EU body or government of an EU member-state
indicated
that the events of June 21st,
2020,
could be certified to have been “free and fair.”
Irregularities included: lop-sided and biased mainstream media coverage and the lack of
virtually any opposition access to the same; abuse of the official positions of state
officeholders for campaigning purposes; misuse of state resources; a pattern of
unresponsiveness by electoral regulatory agencies; exertion of pressure on voters by
organized gangs of thugs and party officials; vote buying; allowing individuals to vote
without proper identification and UV light verification; ballot substitution; and ballot-box
stuffing. As a consequence, the official results indicate at present that together with
incumbent coalition partners, Aleksandar Vučić will directly control around 230 of the 250
seats in the National Assembly. At the local level, the makeup of virtually all municipal
assemblies is similar, or worse. In Europe, on both these scores, Serbia is surpassed in
notoriety only by Belarus.
Serbia is today ruled solely by Aleksandar Vučić, whose control
is absolute. The fact that
he has indicated the new “government” may take months to be established, as if somehow
difficult coalition talks needed to be undertaken, is simply the latest farcical instance of his
brand of pretend-democracy.
Without exception,
Serbia’s democratic opposition today operates outside of parliament.
We are acutely aware of the difficulties inherent in such circumstances, yet we remain
steadfast in our struggle to overcome Vučić’s burgeoning dictatorship.
To that end, we have chosen to come together under a loose umbrella organization called
the Serbian Opposition Association. Typical ideological differences notwithstanding, we
stand united in support of a free and just society in our country, built upon the rule of law
and fundamental respect for democracy and human rights, in accordance with
contemporary European values, standards, and best practices. We also stand united in
our firm conviction that the Vučić regime is incapable and unwilling to achieve these
strategic goals. For all intents and purposes, this has effectively stalled any forward
movement on Serbia’s European perspective.
We have sincerely welcomed the heightened attention of MEPs to the deepening crisis in
 EUU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 904: Henvendelse af 13/8-20 fra Serbian Opposition Association, vedr. Serbien
Serbia, and avail ourselves of the opportunity to underscore that we would likewise
welcome your engagement. We are thus open to discuss the political situation in Serbia
with you and your colleagues via video conference or alternative means of communication.
To that end, we would respectfully ask that you circulate this letter to the heads of the
parliamentary committees in your country responsible for foreign relations, European
affairs, and human rights, as well as to inform all your members of parliament of this letter.
We look forward to working constructively with you on this and other critical issues
conducive to enhancing solidarity with the people of Serbia and helping our country return
to its European path.
We thank you in advance for your kind consideration.
Yours truly,
Jovan Jovanovic, Civil Platform
Zoran Lutovac, Democratic Party
Aron Conka, Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians
Slobodan Samardzic, Statehood Movement of Serbia
Vuk Jeremic, People’s Party
Slavisa Ristic, People's Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija -
“Fatherland”
Janko Veselinovic, Turnaround Movement
Lidija Martinovic, Free Serbia Movement
Zeljko Veselinovic, United Trade Unions of Serbia “Sloga”
Dragan Djilas, Party of Freedom and Justice
Ana Santrac, Sumadija Region
Djordje Vukadinovic