U.S., UK embassies disappointed with RIK ruling

The U.S. and UK embassies are unhappy with RIK’s decision to stop its observers monitoring this month's election. The U.S. embassy reiterates that parliament has invited an OSCE delegation to monitor the ballot. U.S., UK embassies disappointed with RIK ruling “The U.S. have already taken part in monitoring Serbian elections on a number of occasions, and it was a routine request,” reads a statement from the embassy. The UK embassy has also expressed its "confusion and disappointment" at the decision, the embassy informed Beta. "If the media reports are correct, we're confused and disappointed at the decision. Monitoring elections should not be turned into a political issue," said the embassy, adding that it would ask for the reasons behind the decision to be clarified. Last night, the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) upheld a decision to reject the applications from the U.S. and UK embassies to monitor proceedings. RIK ruled that 23 OSCE monitors and three representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States could take part. RIK turned down an objection from a voter from Zemun, Milos Adamovic, for the commission to overturn its decision concerning the U.S. and UK embassy representatives. This led to a heated debate, with Liberal Democratic Party member Savo Pilipovic, who brought the aforesaid motion, telling journalists afterwards that “a second illegal ruling has been brought, and there are no grounds for it.” His announcement further raised temperatures at the session, as he received further criticism for stating “real violence has been carried out” and that “open hatred towards the U.S.” had been displayed. RIK responded that Pilipovic’s outbursts did not reflect the commission’s position, as the only person authorized to make public statements on the commission’s behalf was RIK President Sonja Brkic.

U.S., UK embassies disappointed with RIK ruling

“The U.S. have already taken part in monitoring Serbian elections on a number of occasions, and it was a routine request,” reads a statement from the embassy.

The UK embassy has also expressed its "confusion and disappointment" at the decision, the embassy informed Beta.

"If the media reports are correct, we're confused and disappointed at the decision. Monitoring elections should not be turned into a political issue," said the embassy, adding that it would ask for the reasons behind the decision to be clarified.

Last night, the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) upheld a decision to reject the applications from the U.S. and UK embassies to monitor proceedings.

RIK ruled that 23 OSCE monitors and three representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States could take part.

RIK turned down an objection from a voter from Zemun, Miloš Adamović, for the commission to overturn its decision concerning the U.S. and UK embassy representatives.

This led to a heated debate, with Liberal Democratic Party member Savo Pilipović, who brought the aforesaid motion, telling journalists afterwards that “a second illegal ruling has been brought, and there are no grounds for it.”

His announcement further raised temperatures at the session, as he received further criticism for stating “real violence has been carried out” and that “open hatred towards the U.S.” had been displayed.

RIK responded that Pilipović’s outbursts did not reflect the commission’s position, as the only person authorized to make public statements on the commission’s behalf was RIK President Sonja Brkić.