Diaspora election news digest

SERBIA
ELECTION WATCH

Issue 03  |  Monday, 19 October 2026
Early parliamentary elections: 25 October 2026

Produced by informal organisations of Serbians in the diaspora supporting the student-led protests for democracy, the rule of law and against corruption in Serbia.

Also published online: 1152.nl/en/serbia-election-watch

Executive summary

Six days before Serbia's parliamentary elections, the resignation of ten N1 journalists has intensified fears about the future of independent election coverage. New forensic findings reveal Pegasus spyware on the phone of Vladan Đokić, rector of the University of Belgrade, while observers warn of intimidation and uncertainty surrounding the vote. Investigations also raise fresh questions about voter data, online influence operations and the use of public resources.

In this issue

Independent media under threat as ten prominent N1 journalists resign

16–19 October 2026

Ten N1 journalists and editors resigned on 16 October, including prominent reporters Žaklina Tatalović, Danica Vučenić, Adam Santovac and Ksenija Pavkov Strika. Several have been at the forefront of coverage of the student-led anti-corruption protests. Their departure raises concerns about independent reporting on the 25 October election, the count and any disputed results.

The dispute has a longer history. In August 2025, OCCRP and KRIK published an audio recording in which United Group chief executive Stan Miller and Telekom Srbija chief Vladimir Lučić discussed removing United Media director Aleksandra Subotić. Lučić said that Aleksandar Vučić had asked for her dismissal. United Group confirmed the recording's authenticity but disputed its context and denied political interference; Vučić also denied interfering in editorial policy.

The proposed sale of Adria News Network to investors linked to Alpac Capital and subsequent management changes have intensified concerns at N1 and Nova.rs. In a joint statement signed by nine of the departing journalists, they accused N1's new leadership of subtle censorship, manipulation and changing its editorial direction. They said they could not lend legitimacy to that policy ahead of the election. N1's remaining newsroom pledged to uphold independent journalism.

On 19 October, MEPs Sandro Gozi and Vladimir Prebilič announced a question to the European Commission and letters to Luxembourg's media minister and the European Board for Media Services, seeking scrutiny of the transaction and binding safeguards for editorial independence. They pointed to management changes before Luxembourg's approval of the transfer. Political control of the newsrooms has not been established, but the concerns are acute with polling day only six days away.

Sources: OCCRP/KRIK – leaked executive conversation · OCCRP – United Group response · Departing journalists’ statement, Nova.rs · European Democratic Party, 19 October

Back to contents ↑

Pegasus spyware confirmed on University of Belgrade rector's phone

19 October 2026

Forensic researchers at Citizen Lab have confirmed that University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić's iPhone was infected with Pegasus spyware in 2026, using a ‘zero-click’ attack. Đokić has been a prominent supporter of Serbia's student movement.

Rade Bajić, formerly involved in the organised crime prosecutor's investigation into the Generalštab project, also received an Apple spyware threat notification. An infection of his device has not been confirmed. Citizen Lab and SHARE Foundation report that at least 16 members of civil society in Serbia are publicly known to have been targeted by, or infected with, mercenary spyware in 2026. The perpetrator of the attack on Đokić has not been identified.

Sources: Citizen Lab – forensic findings, 19 October · N1 – SHARE Foundation statement

Back to contents ↑

Fears of violence during and after the election

14–19 October 2026

Concerns over violence during and after 25 October are grounded in previous incidents. Election monitor CRTA reported assaults, intimidation and inadequate police protection in several locations during the local elections of 29 March 2026.

A pre-election delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe warned of intimidation, hostile rhetoric and uncertainty about the post-election period. Security expert Aleksandar Weisner has separately discussed the risk of violence around the count and its aftermath. Allegations by former SNS organiser Momčilo Marjanović concerning armed groups and organised intimidation are subject to preliminary prosecutorial enquiries, not proven findings.

The authorities face urgent questions about protecting voters, journalists, observers and peaceful demonstrators, and investigating any attacks impartially.

Sources: PACE – pre-electoral findings, 14 October · CRTA – local election reporting, 29 March · Vreme – security assessment · Danas – prosecution response

Back to contents ↑

Data errors and possible duplicate entries raise questions about the voter register

18 October 2026

Serbia's Interior Ministry has reportedly attributed a discrepancy of about 235,000 valid identity cards to a technical error. Voter Register Audit Commission member Ognjen Rašuo told FoNet that the commission had relied for months on figures now described as incorrect.

The discrepancy raises questions about the reliability of official data used to examine the electoral register. A separate, more specific concern was raised by engineer Danijel Dašić, who published photographs of two voting notification slips apparently issued for the same person at the same address and polling station (No. 14, Belgrade–Vračar). One uses Cyrillic and the other a Latin transliteration of the name; the voter-list entry numbers differ: 711 and 656.

Dašić has asked OSCE/ODIHR to investigate whether these represent two separate entries in the register. In a comment on the post, Nemanja Vasić reported receiving nine additional voting notices for names the postman could not locate at his 21-flat building, and said he had contacted CRTA. These are publicly documented concerns, but the underlying register entries have not been independently checked; neither report establishes that anyone has voted twice.

Sources: Vreme/FoNet – Rašuo’s account, 18 October · PACE – pre-electoral findings · Danijel Dašić – original LinkedIn post and comment

Back to contents ↑

Investigations trace SNS online operations and public funding links

17–19 October 2026

Vreme reports that public institutions were used for organised online campaigning on behalf of SNS. Its investigation into leaked party-coordination records describes a network instructed to publish favourable messages, amplify SNS posts and write comments on news websites. It identified 1,241 platform users accessing the system via internet networks of 231 public institutions; 94% of logins from government networks were recorded during typical working hours (07:00–16:00). The records also describe shifts, assigned tasks and performance scores. Vreme matched some accounts to people still employed in public bodies, raising questions about the use of public-sector time and resources for party work. The detailed data analysed largely cover 2022–2024; the site's claim that the system remains active in October 2026 has not been independently established.

Separately, BIRN traced more than €250,000 in foreign-ministry diaspora grants since 2023 to organisations with documented pro-SNS activities or other political and ideological links. Some organised transport to SNS events or had links to party call-centre operations. The findings raise questions about state and party resources, but do not establish that the grants themselves were spent unlawfully.

Sources: Vreme – SNS bot network and public institutions · Vreme – shifts, tasks and points · BIRN – funding of diaspora-linked organisations

Back to contents ↑

Guardian links Vučić to disputed Trump Tower project

15 October 2026

An investigation by The Guardian reports that Aleksandar Vučić personally pressed heritage officials in February 2024 to remove protected status from Belgrade's Generalštab complex, clearing the way for a proposed $500 million Trump-branded development associated with Jared Kushner. The project involved a proposed 99-year lease to Kushner's company.

Two officials who resisted the removal later resigned, while senior Serbian officials face criminal charges in the wider case. Prosecutors told the newspaper they held evidence about Vučić's meeting and were examining possible further responsibility. Vučić has not been charged and denies wrongdoing. Kushner's representatives also deny an improper political arrangement.

Sources: The Guardian – original investigation, 15 October

Back to contents ↑

News in brief

European People's Party distances itself from SNS. The EPP has not endorsed SNS in 2026 and is reviewing its associate membership. An EPP MEP has raised possible suspension or expulsion; an absent endorsement was also seen in earlier elections. Nova.rs, 19 October

Questions over two electoral lists. Political scientist Boban Stojanović has challenged signature-collection patterns for Evropska Srbija and Autentična desnica. Stojanović – original post

Back to contents ↑

Key dates ahead

Sources: Student List rally announcement · OSCE/ODIHR mission timetable · RIK · RIK – polling hours · Beta – overseas polling hours

Back to contents ↑

Coming issues

The next Serbia Election Watch is planned for Thursday, 22 October. Further editions will follow as developments warrant, including on and after election day, with particular attention to observed irregularities, verified results, public safety and international reactions.

Back to contents ↑

About Serbia Election Watch

Serbia Election Watch is produced by informal organisations of Serbians in the diaspora that support the student-led protests for democracy, the rule of law and against corruption in Serbia. It provides sourced, English-language briefings for journalists, policymakers and international institutions before, during and after the parliamentary elections of 25 October 2026.

Through the editor, journalists and policymakers can request introductions to student activists involved in the protests, parliamentary candidates on the Student List, and Serbian diaspora organisations and activists around the world. Introductions are arranged subject to availability and consent.

Editorial note: This briefing identifies its publishers’ support for the student-led movement. News summaries are based on linked independent reporting, election-observation material and official institutional documents; official statements are cited as those institutions’ positions, not as independent verification. Attributed allegations and contested statements are not presented as independently established findings. Reporting updated through 19 October 2026.

Serbia Election Watch  |  Issue 03  |  19 October 2026
English-language election briefing by Serbian diaspora organisations.