Mayors of four northern municipalities have decided today to freeze all election activities in protest of the decisions of the Central Election Commission which, they say, violate the law and the rights of minorities.

“Taking into account the CEC changes regarding the composition of polling station councils which are not in accordance to the ethnic composition of the population in our municipalities, the lists and the regulation defining CEC deadlines and instructions, we have decided to stop all electoral activity indefinitely so that the CEC can revoke its decisions”, a statement from the northern mayors reads.

The mayors consider that if Albanians are entitled to be part of the polling station councils in the north of Kosovo, the same right should be extended to the Serbs in the south of Kosovo.

They also demanded removal of Kosovo state symbols from the ballots.

“Serbs of the north want to take fate into their own hands and take part in elections but what the CEC is doing is an example of discrimination and racism and if our demands are not met, we will be forced, in agreement with the citizens, to reconsider our decision to take part in these elections”, the statement concludes.