Serbian voter registrations in Cyprus rise nearly fourfold ahead of parliamentary election

Nicosia, Cyprus. Registrations among Serbian citizens voting in Cyprus in Sunday’s Serbian parliamentary election have reached 523, nearly four times the 2023 figure, according to members of the island’s Serbian community.

Registrations up around 290 per cent

In a pre-election statement, Srbi na Kipru, an informal Serbian community group, reported that 523 voters had signed up to cast ballots at Serbia’s embassy in Nicosia. That compares with 134 in December 2023, an increase of approximately 290 per cent.

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The group said the registered electorate comprised both Serbian residents of Cyprus and Serbian tourists on the island.

Concerns over voting safeguards

Community members warned that possible irregularities during Sunday’s vote could interrupt voting or result in the Nicosia polling station’s ballot being annulled.

Their statement urged safeguards for the secrecy of ballots and measures allowing every registered voter to vote free from interference.

The group further alleged that several Serbians in Cyprus had been offered money for their votes through telephone calls.

Solidarity with student-led protests

The election follows nearly two years of protests led by students in Serbia. The movement began after a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 16 people and triggering broad demands for accountability and more transparent institutions.

Serbian communities overseas have also backed the movement. In Cyprus, seven gatherings in solidarity with the protesters have taken place across Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca during the past two years.

Organisers described those events as peaceful expressions of support for students and for demands for political change in Serbia. The group said the demonstrations showed a common commitment to non-violent civic engagement, solidarity and hope for Serbia’s future.