Case of SNS Call Center Included in ODIHR's Final Report

Among other things, ODIHR’s final report, published by the media yesterday, expressed concern because citizens have been receiving unwanted phone calls from a call center associated with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). They refer here to the CINS’s investigation, in which we uncovered that the condition for working at the call center was casting a vote for SNS, and that the origin of the data in the database used to call citizens is unknown. They also pointed out that there have been media reports about a similar call center in Niš.

This is just one example that prompted this organization to recommend to the authorities measures to prevent intimidation and pressure on voters, encompassing public and state institutions, as well as businesses, and to emphasize the necessity of enhancing monitoring mechanisms.

Our investigation into the call center also served ODIHR as an example of the problem of financing campaigns by third parties, which remains unregulated.

As a reminder, since the article was published, SNS did not include in its report to the Anti-Corruption Agency the costs related to the call center’s work and organization. Also, the party denied having any ties with the M&J Lady hostess agency, which participated in organizing the call center’s operations, as well as with the Center for Education and Development of Youth in Belgrade (CEROB), where people working at the call center were paid wages. Thus, the source of the funds used to pay for their engagement remains unknown.

As a result, in its final report, ODIHR recommends ensuring legal certainty and accountability for campaign financing. They recommend reviewing the law to address these deficiencies. In other words, they propose accepting ODIHR’s recommendation and explicitly regulating election campaigns conducted by third parties through legislation.

They also emphasize that the Anti-Corruption Agency should proactively investigate and sanction campaign financing by unauthorized persons.

As previously reported by CINS, the Agency only acted in the case of the call center after Transparency Serbia submitted a complaint to them about possible violations of the Law on the Financing of Political Activities and of the Criminal Code.

However, the Agency decided not to initiate proceedings against SNS because, as they stated, “they do not have evidence that unquestionably proves that the law was violated in this particular case.” The Agency accepted the statements of those involved in this case who claimed that they did not organize the work of the call center and that money was not paid out in their premises, even though CINS published a video showing that it happened, with a CINS journalist personally present.

Click HERE to read more about the events that unfolded following our investigation.