The United States has called on Serbia to investigate reported irregularities during the elections on December 17.

“The claims of reported irregularities by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE] and the observer team must be investigated, and the violence against election officials, journalists, and accredited observers, for which we have seen reports, is unacceptable, and we will continue to make this clear to Serbia,” said the spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, Matthew Miller, during a press conference on December 19.

Miller stated that Washington is reviewing the preliminary findings of the OSCE observer mission regarding parliamentary, local, and regional elections.

“We are aware that [from the OSCE] they declared that the December 17 elections offered voters opportunities and political alternatives. However, they also concluded that the elections were marred by numerous procedural deficiencies, pressure on public officials, and the misuse of public resources, and that these factors, along with the advantages enjoyed by the ruling party, create unfair conditions,” said Miller.

Local and international observers have stated that there were irregularities in the December 17 elections. Meanwhile, the largest opposition coalition, “Serbia Against Violence”, has accused the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of President Aleksandar Vučić of changing the voters’ will in Belgrade, calling for the annulment of the elections in the Serbian capital.

Earlier on December 19, high-ranking officials of the European Union also expressed their concerns about reported electoral irregularities from local and international observer missions.

In a joint media statement, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, and Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Várhelyi, urged Serbia to transparently examine all reports of electoral irregularities.

“With concern, we conclude that the electoral process needs further improvement and reforms, as the proper functioning of Serbia’s democratic institutions is the essence of Serbia’s EU accession process,” said the joint statement by Borrell and Várhelyi.

According to the preliminary results of the Republican Electoral Commission, the electoral list “Aleksandar Vučić – Serbia Does Not Stop” won 46.71%, followed by the list “Serbia Against Violence” with 23.58%.

The third is the list “Ivica Dačić – Prime Minister of Serbia” with 6.57% of the votes. Then comes “Hope for Serbia” with 5.03% and “We – The Voice of the People” with 4.69%.

Vučić’s party, the SNS, declared victory at all levels.