The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Peja has opened an investigation following allegations that, in the municipality of Junik, during the first round of local elections held on October 12, individuals who are not residents of the municipality voted.

Prosecutors said they are examining whether there are elements of any criminal offense related to abuse of official duty.

“After receiving information that there were individuals who were not residents of Junik but voted in the electoral process, the Chief Prosecutor, Lumturije Vuçetaj, prepared an official note and delegated the case to the Department for Serious Crimes to take further actions, clarify all circumstances, and determine whether there are elements of a criminal offense. If elements are found indicating abuse of official position or any other related offense, appropriate legal measures will be taken in accordance with the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure,” said Shkodran Nikqi, spokesperson for the Peja Prosecutor’s Office, to Radio Free Europe.

A day earlier, Daut Haradinaj, a deputy of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), wrote on Facebook that citizens from other cities “were systematically registered as voters in Junik,” calling for an investigation.

“The Central Election Commission should publish the voter list for this municipality, as this is clearly a scheme of criminal numerical domination,” Haradinaj wrote.

According to data from the Central Election Commission (CEC), 4,846 people were eligible to vote in Junik’s October 12 local elections, of whom 2,490 cast their ballots.
In comparison, during the 2021 local elections, the municipality had fewer registered voters — 4,527 — and 2,276 participated.

Based on preliminary results, Junik will choose its mayor in a runoff, where the candidate from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Ruzhdi Shehu, will face the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) candidate, Agron Kuçi.
Without counting conditional votes, those from the diaspora, and votes from persons with special needs, the difference between the two candidates is small — Shehu leads Kuçi by only 180 votes.

On election day, prosecutors did not report any serious violations.
However, after the elections in South Mitrovica, the Prosecutor’s Office there authorized the Kosovo Police to collect information regarding potential vote misuse.
In that municipality too — which, according to current results, will also head to a runoff — the first-round race was close.