Kosovo President Seeks Probe into ‘Poisoned’ Election Officials

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has called for an investigation into claims that members of the national election commission, the CEC, suffered an allergic reaction after opening poisoned envelopes containing ballots cast in Serbia. He called for restraint until the probe finishes.

Kosovo held general elections last weekend but some ballots cast outside the country are still being counted.

Thaci on Monday urged the competent bodies "to professionally investigate the entire case and undertake all necessary steps to shed light on suspicions over the poisoning of CEC personnel".

He spoke after meeting CEC chief Valdete Daka, head prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi and the head of the intelligence agency, Shpend Maxhuni.

A press release from his office said Daka, Lumezi and Maxhuni had informed him of their initial investigation into the alleged "poisoning of CEC workers who were in contact with envelopes coming from Serbia" at the voting centre in the capital, Pristina.

On Sunday, October 13, 26 members of the CEC complained of allergic reactions after opening ballots. Nine sought medical treatment at the University Clinical Centre in Pristina. They smelled a scent as soon as they opened the envelopes in the ballot boxes, they said.

However, no infectious syndrome was detected and "their general condition is stable," the hospital said. The outcome of further tests was not known by the time of publication.

A Serbian member of the CEC, Stevan Veselinovic, who was present when the so-called poisoned ballots were opened, said he didn't notice any medical issues arising at the time and claimed that he was immediately expelled from the room.

The row has since involved neighbouring Serbia, whose President, Aleksandar Vucic, said he...