Seven US Congressmen have sent a letter to president Joe Biden, where they addressed several issues concerning Serbia’s political landscape and high corruption, calling for the US to intervene.
According to them, the current state of affairs could play a detrimental role in the Western Balkans as well as all of Europe, which prompted them to call out and ask for the public designation of several individuals that risk the region’s stability.
“Unfortunately for the people of Serbia, reports have shown that President Vucic has deepened the corruption within Serbia, including by using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse to obscure government spending and procurement of PPE and ventilators,” – states the open letter.
In addition, the Congressmen underlined that the media close to the government share mutual good relations by serving those in power and benefiting from them financially.
“Therefore, we encourage your administration to engage with President Aleksandar Vucic to combat corruption and attacks on freedom of the press,” – they added.
Another important piece of information mentioned in the letter is the biggest Serbian private TV station, Pink TV, which from 2014-2016 seems to have received at least 7 million euros in credit from the government and that in this station has quite openly favored Vucic during his electoral campaign.
The present situation, according to the Congressmen, greatly harms democratic norms, it silences critics and empowers corrupt individuals.
Regarding the presidential and parliamentary elections that Serbia is expected to hold this spring, the American lawmakers ask Biden to make sure that the process – including both the campaign ahead of the elections and the vote count itself – can be fair and free.
Unfortunately, to get to that more optimistic future, we believe further diplomatic action from the United States and from our European allies and partners, in particular, is crucial to ensuring Serbia can be effective in implementing democratic reforms. In doing so, they will be able to improve relations with all Western Balkan states, including Kosovo,” said the Congressmen.
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