Ivanovic calls on citizens to vote in Sunday elections

Ivanovic is one of the four candidates for the northern Kosovska Mitrovica mayor. He sent a letter from the Pristina prison addressing his co-citizens and it was read out at the closing convention of his party at the central city square Sumadija. He called on voters not to allow manipulation or politically pressures to help a person who cannot ensure peace and stability and act in keeping with their vision of the city in the future be appointed as the northern Kosovska Mitrovica mayor. Ivanovic expressed the belief that citizens would recognise him and the Initiative as a team which is not making unrealistic promises and always lives up to its statements.“I respect your right to a different opinion but do take into consideration the price of it,” Ivanovic warned his citizens in the letter he signed as the political prisoner from Room 9 of the Pristina prison. Recalling that his request for transfer to the northern Mitrovica prison was denied, Ivanovic noted that his biggest fault is that just like other Mitrovica citizens, he wants to live peacefully in his city and raise his children in an atmosphere which would not be dictated by someone else's political ideas. He recalled that the issue of safety in northern Kosovska Mitrovica populated mainly by Serbs was unjustifiably neglected and there were many victims.“If the fact that I now am where are I am has contributed even slightly to reunification among Mitrovica citizens as was the case when we protected our homes, then the secret and powerful enemies made a major mistake. We will stand even stronger and united,” Ivanovic said. Vice President of GI SDP Ksenija Bozovic also addressed citizens and expressed the hope that citizens of northern Kosovska Mitrovica would vote in the February 23 elections on Sunday in large numbers and that SDP leader Oliver Ivanovic would win in the first round of the polls. Participants of the gathering waved Serbian flags and banners saying 'I am Oliver too', and they handed out election leaflets with Ivanovic's image. Leader of GI SDP and candidate for mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica Oliver Ivanovic has been in detention since January 27. He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in an alleged war crime in 1999 and post-war incidents in 2000, including an aggravated murder, and incitement to ethnically motivated murder.