Women in Black on elections: On Sunday, we witnessed a war waged by the regime against its own people

“Yesterday’s events highlight the fact that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) intends to remain in power at any cost. This mafia regime in Serbia is showing a clear determination to ignore its loss of public trust and refuses to step down peacefully. It is using every means at its disposal—from blackmail and threats to open and brutal physical violence against citizens, journalists, and election observers,” the group said in a statement.

They called on “captured state institutions” to take action and refuse to participate in what they described as a “regime-orchestrated subversion of the will of the majority,” and demanded that they “annul the results of the rigged elections.”

“Women in Black demand the arrest, prosecution, and appropriate punishment of all members of police and parapolice units who used violence against citizens, thereby breaking the law. They appeal to all relevant political actors, and above all to European Union institutions, to stand in the way of autocracy by using the political pressure mechanisms at their disposal to force the Serbian regime to hold free and fair democratic elections,” the organization said in a press release.

Sunday’s local elections in 10 municipalities were marked by numerous irregularities, attacks on citizens, journalists, and observers, as well as brawls and various other incidents. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic declared victory in all 10 municipalities on Sunday evening, though preliminary results suggest a narrow margin of victory.