Bosnian Election Commission: RS Presidential Election Recount Begins on Oct. 13

Elections (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/DS)

An election recount for Republika Srpska presidential elections will begin on Oct. 13 at the Main Counting Center in Sarajevo the Central Electoral Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced on Oct. 11

The opening of ballot bags in elections for president and vice-president of RS will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 when ballots at all voting stations in Republika Srpska .

"The three public television and radio stations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (RTV BiH, Federation RTV and RS Radio and Television) may if they are interested broadcast the opening of bags and recount live," the Central Electoral Commission announced adding that other media outlets would also be allowed to broadcast the recount.

The embassies of the U.S. and Great Britain, the EU Delegation and the OSCE mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina hailed the Central Electoral Commission's decision to investigate reports of electoral irregularities in the race for president of RS and quickly conduct a recount. In a joint statement they stressed that by doing so the Commission was fulfilling its duty to the citizens.

"Free and fair elections are the pillar of every democracy. Electoral fraud is a direct attack on the structure of democratic society. We fully support the Commission and its authority to undertake all additional measures to ensure the integrity and transparency of elections," the
statement stressed.