WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chris Murphy (D-CT), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement ahead of Serbia’s upcoming parliamentary elections on October 25, 2026, calling on Serbian authorities to ensure that the elections are free and fair.
The senators’ statement comes as independent election observers express concerns that the upcoming elections will take place in a hostile environment for civil society, observers and opposition parties. According to the independent and non-partisan Serbian Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the campaign period was marked by several cases of voter intimidation, abuse of administrative resources for the benefit of the ruling party, and intimidation of opposition candidates by the police. The CRTA noted that this campaign “does not resemble any electoral process it has observed before” and identified cases of wiretapping of opposition candidates. These concerns are similar to shortcomings raised after the 2022 elections, which have still not been resolved by the ruling party.
“As Serbs prepare to go to the polls on October 25, we defend their right to make their voices heard in free and fair conditions and urge all parties to respect vote counting and relevant processes for verifying election results. The United States has long supported Serbia’s path to Euro-Atlantic integration and has recognized its potential to promote stability in the Western Balkans. A strong democracy in Serbia is essential for each of these goals.
“Unfortunately, Serbian and international election observers have noted serious violations of the integrity of the previous 2022 parliamentary elections. We are now seeing equally troubling signs in the run-up to the October 25 vote. Reports of illegal wiretapping of opposition members and attempts to discredit and undermine election observation missions are deeply concerning, and Serbian authorities must ensure a level playing field for all parties and free access to the polls for all citizens.
“We urge the ruling party and all relevant institutions to ensure the upcoming vote is peaceful, free and open. We reaffirm the vital role that international and domestic observers play in preserving trust in the electoral process. It is the responsibility of Serbian authorities to ensure that all institutions respect the role of citizen observers, journalists and candidates for office.”
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