Serbia's Opposition Bastions Seek European Probe Into 'Abuses'

The only three towns in Serbia in which the Serbian Progressive Party is not in power have filed a joint complaint to the Congress of Local Governments of the Council of Europe, asking it to examine allegations of abuse of democracy.

"We sent them a letter in which we described the violations of human rights and we will present our proof at the [next] session of the Congress," the mayor of Paracin, Sasa Paunovic, told BIRN.

Paunovic added that a petition had also been launched and sent to all other cities and towns in Serbia, so that local councillors who support the move can join.

"We already have people from [the northern city of] Novi Sad, from Zajecar [in eastern Serbia], Vracar [in Belgrade] and others supporting us," Paunovic said.

Paracin, together with the western towns of Sabac and Cajetina, are the only places in Serbia in which the Progressive Party, led by President Aleksandar Vucic, is not in power, locally as well as nationally.

After the last local elections, in April 2016, the Progressives formed majorities alone or in coalitions in most Serbian cities and towns, leaving only these three in opposition hands.

In Paracin, the Democratic Party together with several citizens groups formed the local government - as in Sabac. In Cajetina, several right-wing parties and groups hold power.

Media reports have alleged that the Progressives have put pressures these opposition bastions, keen to take them over as well.

"We said in our letter to the Congress that the Progressives lead a media campaign against us. It goes like this: first someone calls and tells you the media will publish fake news that you stole money; then they call you again, saying that it can be stopped if you...