Serbian NGOs: Referendum on the Constitution is unconstitutional and illegal

The Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia and Center for Cultural Decontamination requested from the Constitutional Court to immediately establish the discrepancy between the referendum announcement and the Law on Referendum and People's Initiative. The NGOs demanded the Constitutional Court to officially declare null and void the National Assembly's decision about the referendum on the new Constitution of Serbia.

As explained, the Assembly's decision on referendum announcement, passed on September 30th, runs contrary to the Constitutional article which stipulates that all citizens are equal in their rights and obligations – NB: while the referendum has been announced for the territory of Kosovo and Metohija as well, the citizens of Albanian nationality will be deprived of their right to vote.

"Discrimination against all Albanians in Kosovo, who are not even permitted to decide whether to use their right to vote or not, is directly contrary to the Law on Referendum and People's Initiative", reads the joint press release.