Serbian ruling party branch accused of illegally registering voters in Bosnia

An audio recording has surfaced, allegedly revealing a branch of Serbia's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Banja Luka, Bosnia, engaging in the registration of citizens holding dual Serbian-Bosnian citizenship for upcoming Serbian elections. The recording, published by the watchdog organization CRTA, has raised serious questions about the legality and transparency of the process.

The recording features a female voice explaining the registration procedure: "The ID card is scanned or read, and you have completed that registration for the upcoming elections. You will, of course, be informed in advance about your polling station, whether it is the consulate or the Mtel building." When asked if the consulate or the party was handling this, the voice clarifies, "This is from the Serbian Progressive Party, Banja Luka branch."

CRTA's representative, Raša Nedeljkov, highlighted the irregularities, stating, "Someone employed at the consulate or embassy is illegally registering people who have not personally come to register to vote, as everything has been prepared in advance." He further questioned how the party obtained citizens' data and phone numbers, suggesting it might involve cross-referencing separate databases. Nedeljkov emphasized that voters can only register after elections are officially called and must do so in person at Serbian embassies or consulates abroad.

Lawyer Sofija Mandić pointed out that the process described in the recording appears to be an abuse, as personal data from ID cards is being used to fill out registration forms that voters should sign themselves. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, responding informally to CRTA's claims, drew parallels with previous governments, stating that fewer citizenships were issued under his administration compared to those who governed before. However, he did not directly address the specifics of the Banja Luka recording.