A comprehensive preliminary analysis by the observing mission CRTA asserts that the local elections held in Kosjerić and Zaječar on June 8, 2023, were neither free nor fair.

The evaluation highlights systemic institutional pressures, instances of media and physical violence, and an atmosphere of fear surrounding the elections in these two municipalities.

CRTA reports that irregularities were observed at 19% of polling stations, despite a remarkably high voter turnout, with 84.2% of registered voters participating in Kosjerić and 63.6% in Zaječar.

The observation on election day depicted a strong presence of police and individuals in civilian clothing with ambiguous authority, raising concerns among voters and independent observers.

Increased civic mobilization, in response to previous political crises, resulted in residents organizing themselves in Kosjerić and Zaječar to deter possible electoral fraud.

Continuous issues related to unpunished electoral violations have reportedly weakened public trust in the electoral process, prompting citizens to take active measures to monitor the elections.

CRTA's mission involved over 400 observers, covering all polling locations — 29 in Kosjerić and 69 in Zaječar.

Observers were deployed to watch the election process from the setup and opening of polling stations, throughout the voting period, to the counting of votes and issuing of official records.

The ongoing monitoring is intended to last until the final election results are declared.

The context leading up to the elections was marked by heightened societal tensions, following significant incidents earlier in the year that triggered mass protests.

The protests have played a role in enhancing citizen organization within local communities and highlighted the prevailing political climate, leading to increased use of state resources for campaign purposes and electoral manipulation.

The pre-election environment was characterized by verbal and physical violence and practices of election corruption.

Instances of control and pressure exerted on voters were reported, contributing to the oppressive atmosphere that characterized election day.

In Zaječar, which has 47,353 registered voters, and Kosjerić with 8,897 registered voters, multiple mechanisms of control, alongside previous cycles of electoral malpractice, were evident.

Preliminary findings from CRTA’s observation noted individual cases of irregularities at 86% of polling stations in Zaječar and 55% in Kosjerić on election day.

In Kosjerić, 20 different types of incidents were recorded, including suspicious vehicles surveilling polling stations and improper use of voting equipment.

Reports indicated incidents such as unauthorized individuals present at polling stations and documentation irregularities.

In Zaječar, 32 distinct types of incidents were reported, with prevalent patterns like suspicious vehicles at 36% of polling locations and photographing ballots behind privacy screens at 33%.

Additional issues included voters not possessing valid identification, illegal gatherings, and intimidation of CRTA observers.

Special concerns were raised regarding the emergence of new pro-government monitoring organizations during these elections.

These organizations reportedly interfered with the work of polling boards, aligning closely with officials from ruling parties and undermining the independent observer efforts.

There are allegations that these new entities disseminated misleading information aimed at discrediting independent election monitors.

The electoral results for Kosjerić showed the following distribution of votes: 'Ne damo Srbiju - Aleksandar Vučić' received 49.23% of the votes, while 'Ujedinjeni za Kosjerić' garnered 48.54%.

In Zaječar, 'Ne damo Srbiju' also led with 47.13% of the votes, followed by 'Promena u koju verujemo' with 34.23%.

A total of 522 invalid ballots were recorded in Zaječar.

The reported incidents and the voting results indicate significant controversies surrounding the electoral integrity in both municipalities.