The following media round up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 23 January to 26 January 2023.
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.
Kosovo- 26 January 2023
Local and international media organisations and the President of Albania have all condemned the attack on an Albanian journalist who had been threatened over his article reporting a court ruing. The full article can be found here.
Serbia- 25 January 2023
The prosecution urged the UN Court in The Hague to convict Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic of participating in a joint criminal enterprise, along with other Serb political, military and police officials. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 25 January 2023
The UN Committee Against Torture said Switzerland should not deport a Turkish couple affiliated with exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen to Kosovo because there is a risk that they could be transferred to Turkey and face torture. The full article can be found here.
Albania – 25 January 2023
British admission that hundreds of Albanian minor asylum seekers have gone missing from placements in hotels has drawn criticism from experts demanding more responsibility on the issue. The full article can be found here.
Albania – 25 January 2023
Albanians are seeking action after hackers behind a wave of cyber-attacks in 2022 opened a new front by hacking a private bank and leaking client data. The full article can be found here.
North Macedonia – 25 January 2023
A row over whether to change the constitution to appease neighbouring Bulgaria and progress on the path to EU accession will set the tone for 2023 in North Macedonia, for both the government and its opponents. The full article can be found here.
Bosnia and Hercegovina – 24 January 2023
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia prosecuted military commanders for systematic gender-based sexual violence, but failed to examine important factors that contributed to these crimes against humanity. The full article can be found here.
Serbia – 24 January 2023
Criminal networks are the primary illegal users of ports in the Balkans for the trafficking of cocaine, amphetamines, and heroin. Tackling them requires greater international police cooperation. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo -23 January 2023
Kosovo police confirmed that they shot at a car driven by two Serbs, claiming that the vehicle previously hit a police car, endangering officers' lives. The full article can be found here.