Faton Peci, the GUXO movement’s candidate for mayor of South Mitrovica, backed by Vetëvendosje, announced today that he will file criminal complaints against several journalists and media figures, following accusations of vote-buying and election manipulation during Sunday’s local elections. According to preliminary results, Peci won 45.62% of the votes, trailing the PDK candidate, Arian Tahiri, who received 50%.
Local media reported that alleged electoral fraud may have occurred in South Mitrovica, with journalist Shkumbin Kajtazi claiming that investigations were already underway and that a Vetëvendosje official was suspected of involvement.
“Pickup trucks 01 and 05 were caught on camera, and the scheme will soon be revealed. The thieves should not sleep peacefully. We will expose you by name,” Kajtazi wrote on Facebook.
The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in South Mitrovica confirmed that it has started collecting information regarding these allegations.
“At this stage, I can confirm that we have begun gathering information. We will see what these suspicions reveal,” said spokesperson Valon Preteni for Klan Kosova.
“Criminal complaint”
In a lengthy Facebook post titled “Criminal Complaint”, Peci accused several well-known media personalities — including Baton Haxhiu, Berat Buzhala, Liridon Mehmetaj, Visar Imeri, Ilir Mirena, Valon Syla, Ermal Panduri, Valon Feka, and Shkumbin Kajtazi — of “violating the free will of voters” and “forging election results,” invoking Articles 210 and 216 of Kosovo’s Criminal Code.
“The only goal of these actions was to create confusion, attempt illegal influence, and divert the will of citizens in Mitrovica to alter the election outcome,” Peci wrote.
He further accused “certain media and individuals connected to illegal interest groups” of conducting “synchronized actions throughout election day” — which, according to him, included “slander, public lynching, false accusations, and manipulated figures,” culminating in what he called “illegal exit polls.”
Meanwhile, videos have resurfaced from Peci’s campaign in which he used derogatory language toward Serbs.
Kurti: “This was not a mistake — it was manipulation”
Caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti also addressed the issue during a post-election press conference, alleging “planned manipulation” in media coverage of the South Mitrovica vote.
“What happened on October 12 regarding reporting from South Mitrovica must be thoroughly investigated. This was not a mere mistake, but a planned intervention and flagrant manipulation of the electoral process,” Kurti said.
He criticized the publication of exit polls showing large discrepancies and naming winners before polls had closed, calling it “a threat to democracy, free elections, and state integrity.”
Kurti’s remarks drew strong condemnation from media freedom advocates, who viewed them as intimidation.
Backlash from media organizations
Media law expert Flutura Kusari responded that none of the journalists named by Peci had committed a criminal act, emphasizing that they had merely exercised their right to free expression.
“Any attempt to use criminal proceedings to silence journalists is an abuse of law,” she said, adding that such cases would not succeed before competent institutions and would only “reinforce the government’s pattern of trying to restrict media freedom.”
“The goal of such initiatives is to intimidate journalists from commenting on elections and to push a narrative that journalists are enemies — not to be trusted — while citizens should only believe the government,” Kusari warned.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) also condemned Peci’s statement as an attempt to intimidate the press:
“Such actions represent a serious attack on press freedom in Kosovo and an effort to discourage journalists from fulfilling their duty to inform the public,” AGK said, adding that
“Mr. Peci has a record of hostile behavior toward the media and journalists.”
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
