Ethnic Serbs Boycott Local Elections in Kosovo's North

Ethnic Serbs boycotted local elections in northern Kosovo on Sunday, April 23, amid ongoing calls in the region for the creation of an association of Kosovo Serb municipalities, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

The planned association, which was agreed during European Union-mediated negotiations between the Serbian and Kosovar governments in 2013, would grant participating municipalities the ability to act collectively and exercise a higher degree of regional self-governance.

Goran Rakic, a former deputy prime minister and leader of the minority Serb party Serbian List, called on Serb voters to boycott the elections, citing ethnic targeting by Kosovar authorities and the “non-implementation of all signed agreements”.

Citing local election officials, RFE/RL reported that 3.5 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots in North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful