The following media round up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 18 February to 24 February 2022.
Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates with a focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia . Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 18 February 2022
The Cantonal Court in Bihac found Safet Isakovic not guilty of crimes against prisoners of war in the Bosanska Krupa area in July 1995. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 22 February 2022
Two witnesses at the trial of Oliver Ivanovic's murder, at the Pristina Basic Court, showed reluctance to confirm previous testimonies where they named alleged members of organised criminal groups that operate in the Serb-dominated north of Kosovo. The full article can be found here.
Albania – 23 February 2022
A Tirana court has in absentia jailed Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti for 17 years for money laundering and theft – although Becchetti claims the case is politically motivated, and the UK has refused to extradite him. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo 23 – February 2022
The latest dialogue between representatives of Serbia and Kosovo in Brussels passed off without any progress being made, and without the Serbian and Kosovo representatives talking face to face. The full article can be found here.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 24 February 2022
The NATO and EU-led peacekeeping force in Bosnia, EUFOR, will deploy four more companies with some 500 troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina, “as a precautionary measure” to ensure “a safe and secure environment” in the country. The full article can be found here.
Serbia – 24 February 2022
Serbia navigated the last Ukraine conflict with some success – but the latest flare-up threatens to upset its East-West balancing act. The full article can be found here.
Serbia – 24 February 2022
Prosecutor Dusan Knezevic asked The Belgrade Higher Court to hand down a six-year prison sentence to Osman Osmanovic, who is accused of abusing civilians and prisoners of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the summer of 1992. The full article can be found here.
Montenegro – 24 February 2022
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Montenegrin authorities failed to compensate passengers who were injured when a bus fell into a ravine in a deadly accident in 1994. The full article can be found here.