Election silence begins after threats and pardon claims
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Voters go to the polls in Niš on Sunday, but the campaign has ended on a dark note. Journalist Vuk Cvijić reported receiving threats of child murder following the publication of correspondence from an encrypted messaging app; the messages allegedly suggest that Aleksandar Vuāćić promised a pardon to a notorious drug lord. A prosecutor responded by noting the public has a right to know who is being pardoned and why charges against the president were dismissed.
The domestic tension is being matched by pressure from Washington. A US Congressman has requested sanctions against several businessmen and a media mogul, citing state contracts awarded to government-friendly firms. In Serbia, political influence and public procurement often share the same office.
Election silence took effect at midnight and will last until Sunday evening. While the capital focuses on the ballot box, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has come under scrutiny as the country’s largest armed formation, though its true strength is difficult to assess due to high politicization and questionable connections.