Transparency Serbia: Key ODIHR Recommendations for Preventing Abuse of Public Resources Have Not Been Met

Transparency Serbia (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Nemanja Nenadic, the program director of the NGO Transparency Serbia, said on Dec. 4 that Serbia commenced a new election campaign period without having amended a single law or met any of the recommendations regarding preventing the abuse of public resources made by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

In addition, Nenadic stated, several new potential breeches of law have been reported, first and foremost being instances of public company employees allegedly posting pro-regime messages on social media.

Nenadic also mentioned that President Aleksandar Vucic held several Progressive Party of Serbia rallies that were not officially part of his party’s campaign yet are contentious due to claims that the attendees were paid a day’s wage in cash and vehicles belonging to public institutions were used for the events.

“Certain state bodies have again been unresponsive, namely the Public Prosecutor’s Office. There have also been no proactive moves to explain what is prohibited, what constitutes offering and receiving a bribe,” Nenadic stated at a news conference regarding the initial findings on the ongoing election campaign’s funding.