Svečla: Threats against voters in Gračanica are under Serbian directives

Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, has said that threats and pressure against voters in Gracanica stem from directives orchestrated by Serbia, following the arrest of seven people suspected of "violating the free will of voters."

In a Facebook post on Tuesday night, Sveçla said that the elections in Kosovo continue to be evaluated by international reports for the high standard of organization and the guarantee of the free will of citizens, despite, as he expressed it, deliberate political blockades.

He welcomed the action of security institutions to arrest seven citizens of Serbian nationality in Gracanica, who are suspected of attempting to influence voters through threats, pressure and blackmail.

"Such acts, which directly target citizens of the Serbian community in Kosovo, stem from directives orchestrated by Serbia, which violate political pluralism and the democratic order in our country," Sveçla declared.

According to him, Kosovo's institutions will act decisively against any attempt to intimidate citizens or distort political will.

"The institutions of the Republic of Kosovo will guarantee that the electoral process remains free and unaffected by external interference," he stressed.