The following media round up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 15 August to 19 August 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.
Bulgaria – 17 August 2022
In its handling of the extradition to Russia of a Russian dissident and the outcome of an October 2 election, Bulgaria faces a test of its commitment to pluralism, human rights and the independent application of the law. The full article can be found here.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 17 August 2022
Ejup Ganic, a Bosniak former political leader who was a member of Bosnia’s presidency during the war, will go on trial next month for his alleged role in a deadly attack on Yugoslav troops in Sarajevo in 1992. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 17 August 2022
The war of words between Serbia and Kosovo is reaching fever pitch, but far from heralding outright conflict, it is more likely part of a battle for favour on the diplomatic stage. The full article can be found here.
Croatia – 16 August 2022
Croat Vjekoslav Prebeg has pleaded not guilty to charges of being a mercenary at a court of the unrecognized Donetsk People’s Republic, while the pro-Russian separatist authorities accuse him of being a Ukrainian mercenary who took part in efforts to oust them, which is why he faces the death penalty. The full article can be found here.
Montenegro – 16 August 2022
The police response to the worst ever mass shooting in Montenegro faced fierce scrutiny amid criticism about its speed and effectiveness. The full article can be found here.
North Macedonia- 16 August 2022
North Macedonia’s chief state prosecutor, Ljubomir Joveski, has suspended the head of the Organised Crime Prosecution, Vilma Ruskovska, over a suspicion that she has made a “major professional mistake” while recently probing the premises of the Financial Police for alleged crimes. The full article can be found here.
Albania – 15 August 2022
Albania is pressing on with its plan to start selling passports to rich foreigners and investors, despite repeated criticism from the EU that this scheme, also used in some neighbouring countries, goes against EU values and could cause problems in bids to join the bloc. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 15 August 2022
As a result of their own political naivety, and the EU’s failure to truly support them, the political fortunes of the region’s pro-EU favourites have faded. The full article can be found here.