The candidacy of the main political party of Serbia’s Kosovo in the parliamentary elections in February was rejected yesterday (Monday) by the electoral commission, some members of which accuse it of being closely linked to Belgrade and not recognizing Kosovar statehood.

“The recommendation for the certification of the Serbian List was not adopted,” the chairman of the electoral commission, Kresnik Radonici, stated during a meeting of the electoral commission.

The decision is not final; the Serbian List can appeal. Nevertheless, it was denounced by Serbia and criticized by the US and the EU.

Serbia does not recognize the independence declared in 2008 by Kosovo, a former Serbian province with a largely Albanian-majority population.

“Representatives of that party are in permanent contact with the government” of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, explained Sami Kurtesi, a member of the electoral commission, explaining his negative vote, without however explaining how it is acceptable for Albanian parties to have open contacts with the Albanian government.

Of the 120 seats in Kosovo’s parliament, twelve are reserved by quota for the Serb community. They are currently occupied by members of the Serbian List.

The faction’s relations with the Kosovar government are strained. Pristina makes no secret of the fact that it considers the Serb List nothing more than a tool of Belgrade to control the Serb community.

The US embassy, a key Kosovo ally, expressed “deep concern” over the rejection of the Serbian List’s candidacy.

“Such actions undermine the fundamental democratic principles for holding free and fair elections,” a spokesman said, according to Kosovar media.

For his part, the Serbian head of state said he referred to “attempts (made in Pristina) to ban the Serbian List from participating in the elections” during a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti is bent on “eliminating the only opposition” and “wants, with the help of his allies, to proceed with ethnic cleansing” of Kosovo Serbs, Vucic stated via Instagram.