Login
The Balkans Today
The Balkans Today: 5th June - 9th June 2017
Our team brings you live updates of the most important events and developments in the Balkans as they happen.
-
Top stories from the Balkans this Monday:
- Although in theory as president he will have less power over Serbia's security services, former PM Aleksandar Vucic will continue to pull the strings in that sector, experts predict. Read more.
- Ahead of Kosovo’s snap elections set for June 11, Balkan Insight profiles the main contenders and their views on key issues the new cabinet will encounter. Read more.
- New Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov will soon travel to Greece, to develop bilateral relations with its southern neighbor, and in hopes of opening the country's currently blocked Euro-Atlantic path. Read more.
-
Leader of the Party of Kosovo Serbs, Aleksandar Jablanovic, was arrested with his wife Kristina after a fight broke out between the supporters of his party and the rival Serbian List, which is backed by Serbia.Jablanovic allegedly threatened the Serbian List activists with a firearm while they were putting up posters for the upcoming elections, in the northern Kosovo village of Leposavic.
Aleksandar Jablanovic. Photo: Una Hajdari -
Serbian President and former Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will meet with representatives of several political parties today to discuss who will fill the Prime Minister’s post.
The opposition Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Dveri and "Enough is Enough" announced they will not participate.
Vucic in one of today's meetings. Beta/Milan Obradovic -
Today marks #Montenegro officially joining @NATO . Welcome, youngest member of our alliance ????????11:18 AM - 05 Jun 2017- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
The Kosovo government refused to allow Serbian Labour Minister Aleksandar Vulin to enter its territory on Monday, Beta news agency reported, referring Kosovo daily Koha Ditore.
According to Beta’ report, the Kosovo authorities’ decision is a reciprocal measure following Serbia’s decision to refuse entry on June 2 to ex-President Atifete Jahjaga, who was intending to visit Belgrade to promote her book on wartime rape. -
The Serbian Defence Ministry announced that citizens in the reserve military forces who have completed military service with arms will be invited in June and July to attend one or more days of military exercises.The Serbian trade union Sloga warned that it had already received complaints from workers who were afraid that they would lose their jobs because of their absence from work to partake in the exercises.
Photo: Serbian Defense Ministry -
The Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, Alojz Peterle, stressed on Monday that the role of the media in fostering pre-election political debates for the public is essential and that Kosovo’s political actors have a collective responsibility to demonstrate that they are willing to meet European standards by partaking in these, after the dominant PDK-led coalition last week demanded more airtime on TV debates than it is entitled to.“Reported attempts by political parties to interfere and impose conditions on access to election debates are resulting in difficulties for media in organising fair and inclusive debates in line with the law, to the detriment of the electorate,” Peterle said in a press statement. “It is not too late to reverse these negative trends, which risk tainting the entire election process. Kosovo’s voters deserve better.”
BIRN Kosovo election debate whith an empty chair on left reserved for PDK representative. Photo: Atdhe Mulla -
A Bulgarian citizen is among those injured in the London attack on Saturday night, but is in a stable condition in hospital, the Bulgarian foreign ministry announced on Monday, quoting information from the UK Foreign Office.The Bulgarian embassy also alerted the UK police to another Bulgarian citizen who was allegedly injured in the attack, according to information from the person’s relatives, the ministry added. -
The owner of London’s Cafe Brood, Mark Stembridge, told the UK’s The Sun newspaper that his restaurant staff, including four Albanians, saved the lives of dozens of diners from three knife-wielding terrorists who “hesitated” for a vital moment as they stormed inside.“Four of my staff are from Albania and some have been in the military and they are used to dealing with the conflict that they have been brought up in,” Stembridge told The Sun. “We had around 130 people outside on the terrace. The staff protected all the customers and the three guys just hesitated and then they went off towards the Borough Bistro where I heard some people were stabbed.”
-
#MFA: We regret anti-Russian hysteria in #Montenegro. In response to hostile policy of its govt we reserve right to… https://t.co/IeNdEY94sM5:36 PM - 05 Jun 2017
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that Montenegro’s accession to the Alliance contributes to international peace and security, and sends a strong signal that NATO’s door remains open.
"Today, Montenegro joins NATO with a seat at the table as an equal, with an equal voice in shaping our Alliance, and its independence guaranteed," Stoltenberg said. He noted that NATO will benefit from Montenegro’s insight into the Western Balkans "and the professionalism, bravery and dedication of its men and women in uniform,"
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: nato.int. -
Top stories from the Balkans this Tuesday:
- Montenegro on Monday formally became the 29th NATO member, but Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic told BIRN that it should not be seen as a 'poke in the eye for Russia'. Read the full interview.
- Albania’s main political parties have repeatedly come under fire for not declaring all their campaign spending, and it’s widely accepted that the current system of declaration and audit needs reform. Read more.
- Critics nicknamed Moldova’s pro-Russian President Igor Dodon the ‘czar’s doormat’ after Russian President Vladimir Putin joked at his expense during a summit in Moscow. Read more.
-
An unusually high number of invalid ballots (9.46 per cent of all ballots) in Sunday’s elections for the mayor of the Croatian coastal city of Split are currently being inspected after Zeljko Kerum, a local businessman who was runner-up in the vote, said that his opponent, Andro Krstulovic Opara, and his governing Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, classified all the votes for Kerum as invalid.
However, Kerum's candidate for deputy mayor, Davor Grcic, who is a witness at the inspection, said that many voters wrote that they are voting for animated character SpongeBob SquarePants on their ballots.
Sponge Bob. Photo: Pixabay/gramix70 -
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said he received “thousands of emails and messages” of support from US and EU citizens after US President Donald Trump appeared to shove him at the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25, Politico reported.
Markovic told German newspaper Bild in an interview published Monday evening that he did not believe Trump intended to push him aside in order to move to the front of a group of leaders for photographs. -
French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted an invitation to visit Bulgaria in August, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, whose first official visit since his government was appointed was to Paris, announced on Tuesday.Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borrisov continues his visit to the German capital, Berlin, where he will meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier today and Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.In a Facebook post, Borissov said that everyone in Europe is hoping that Macron’s “experience, energy and youth will contribute for moving forward of a strong and united Europe.”
Borissov and Macron in Paris. Photo: Bulgarian government press service -
During her audience with Pope Francis on Tuesday, Zeljka Markic, the leader of a Croatian conservative values NGO 'In the Name of the Family', gave him a special 25 Croatian kuna coin made by the Croatian National Bank in 2000 with the image of a foetus on it, symbolising life and the birth of a new millennium.
Markic also thanked the Pope for his support of marriage, families and the most vulnerable groups.
Zeljka Markic with Pope Francis. Photo: In the Name of the Family 
Coin with a foetus image. Photo: In the Name od the Family -
Hackers linked to Russian intelligence targeted Montenegro earlier this year, according to the security firm FireEye.
The Hill magazine reported on Tuesday that FireEye tied the attack to Russia via infrastructure and malware exclusively used by the group APT 28, one of the hacking corps believed to have disrupted the 2016 U.S. elections.
“NATO expansion is often viewed as a security threat by the Russian Federation, and Montenegro's bid for membership was strongly contested by Russia and the pro-Russia political parties in Montenegro. It’s likely that this activity is a part of APT28’s continued focus on targeting various NATO member states, as well as the organisation itself,” said Tony Cole, vice president and chief technology officer for global government at FireEye, during a press briefing. -
Top stories from the Balkans this Wednesday:
- Croatian NGOs told BIRN that police only stop using violence against refugees at the country’s border after alleged misconduct by officers is made public. Read more.
- It seems few Russians have been put off from holidaying in Montenegro, despite Moscow issuing advisories against travel to NATO’s newest member. Read more.
- A new Albanian taskforce has been set up to ensure state resources and staff are not abused during elections, but some fear political freedoms are at risk. Read more.
-
Final preparations at NATO HQ for welcoming new #NATO Ally #Montenegro this afternoon. #WeAreNATO https://t.co/Cfg0TkSc7N
10:17 AM - 07 Jun 2017- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
In front of the Government young people welcomed PM Duško Marković who returned from Washington where #Montenegro b… https://t.co/QWBaTC40E91:05 PM - 07 Jun 2017
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemned the verbal and physical attacks against journalists from Insajder Production, Vice, Radio Belgrade and daily newspaper Danas during the inauguration of Serbian President Vucic on May 31 in Belgrade.The attacks occurred while Vucic’s supporters and opposition activists started clashing in front of the Serbian parliament. According to media reports, Danas journalist Lidija Valtner was taking a statement of a protester when she was dragged away by two persons holding her by the neck and trying to take her mobile phone away.
Protesters during the swearing-in ceremony. Photo: Milos Miskov/Beta -
Ramush Haradinaj, the joint candidate for Kosovo’s next Prime Minister from the coalition between the Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK and NISMA (Initiative for Kosovo), said that under his governing the agreement on the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities will not be implemented, noting that Kosovo’s Constitutional Court found that this agreement violates the Constitution.“Following the Constitutional Court ruling, we should be strict in implementing the Constitution of Kosovo. Our Constitution foresees establishment of the associations which can be self-coordinating bodies, but not decision-making bodies and without executive powers,” Haradinaj said during an interview with Deutsche Welle.
Ramush Haradinaj during the election campaign | Photo: Facebook -
The European Commission will allocate 357 euros million of Cohesion Policy funds to build a bridge that will connect the southernmost part of the country and Dubrovnik to the rest of mainland Croatia.
The construction of the Peljesac bridge, for which the EU will contribute 85 per cent of the cost, will significantly improve the everyday life of Croatians, through reducing the travel time between Dubrovnik and Split, the Commission said in a statement on Wednesday. -
The European Commission announced sending a group of senior rule of law experts, led by Reinhard Priebe to help the new Macedonian government in its reform efforts."The Senior Experts' Group will visit the country soon to carry out an analysis of the current situation, follow-up on their previous findings and provide recommendations on how to address concerns in relation to systemic rule of law issues, on which there has been backsliding in recent years", Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a press statement on Wednesday. -
Croatian football star Luka Modric, who plays for Real Madrid, will appear as a witness next week at the corruption trial of former Dinamo Zagreb FC chief Zdravko Mamic and other former club officials, AFP news agency reported.
Modric will testify next Tuesday and another Croatian star, Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren, will appear as a witness the following day, AFP quoted the judge in the city of Osijek as saying.
Mamic and the other former Dinamo officials are accused of abuse of power and bribery, costing the club over 15 million euros, the indictment alleges. -
#Montenegro joins #NATO as an equal. A seat at our table & a voice in shaping our Alliance’s future. Today their fl… https://t.co/PuiVnXTxy53:45 PM - 07 Jun 2017
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
Seventy-four people, including current mayors and directors of state and private companies, were arrested in a mass police operation on Wednesday on charges of financial crimes and corruption, some of which relates to abuses in state institutions, Serbia’s Interior Minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic, said on Wednesday.The police operation, called "Signal", was carried out in 19 towns across Serbia, with two mayors, two former mayors and 14 current and former directors of state and private companies among those arrested, the interior ministry said in a press release.
Serbia’s Interior Minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic. Photo: Beta/MUP -
Bulgaria can do a lot to ensure the European perspective of the Balkan countries during its EU presidency, Bulgarian Prime minister told German Chancellor Angela Merkel during his official visit to Berlin on Wednesday, the Bulgarian National Radio reported.Borissov’s visit to the German capital, where he also met President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, followed a meeting with French President Emanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday.
Borissov and Merkel in Berlin. Photo: Bulgarian government press service
-
Albania Police announced today that a Macedonian citizen was caught at the port in the coastal city of Durres with 750 kilograms of cannabis hidden in his truck inside packages of vegetables.Police believe that the cannabis was loaded into the truck in Albania and destined for Italy.
Albanian Police during an anti-cannabis action. Photo: State Police -
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on awarding the Order of Friendship to former President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, Russian outlet Sputnik reported on Wednesday.
Nikolic was awarded for his personal contribution and strengthening of strategic partnership and friendly relations between the Russian Federation and Serbia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Wikipedia -
Top stories from the Balkans this Thursday:
- With a new government in place, Macedonia’s compromised chief Public Prosecutor Marko Zvrlevski, who was seen as a puppet of the former regime, can't hope to stay in office much longer. Read more.
- Russian and Bosnian Serb leaders Vladimir Putin and Milorad Dodik have met yet again, but questions remain about whether their frequent get-togethers serve propaganda purposes or will deliver economic benefits. Read more.
- At some point, Washington will be forced to re-engage with the Balkans and work out a new policy that is in tune with political reality. Read more.
-
First meeting today w President @avucic whom I congratulated sincerely on his election.We discussed #Serbia's #EU p… https://t.co/GI4URT48TJ9:48 AM - 08 Jun 2017Delete
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
One person died and 42 people were evacuated in yesterday's storm in the town of Vrsac in Serbia's northern province of Vojvodina, the Serbian Ministry of Interior said on Friday morning.Dozens of houses remain flooded and rescue teams are providing necessary help to citizens.
-
Offensive placards against Sasa Jankovic, the head of the Free Citizens of Serbia movement and runner-up in the presidential elections have appeared in Belgrade, N1 television reported yesterday.
The placards are accusing Jankovic of killing his roommate in an incident in 1993, although the death has already been declared as suicide, N1 explained. -
Macedonia's new Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski has suspended 23 persons in relation to the April 27 storming of parliament that left some 100 people injured, including ten MPs, and more police employees face ongoing disciplinary measures, he said, without mentioning names.
"Due to the party influence in its managing structures, this institution [the police] failed the exam on April 27. This ministry must get rid of partisation [within the police] and start working normally and freely. We owe to our citizens to clean up the shame that happened in April 27," Spasovski told a press conference on Thursday.
He said that the suspensions are based on a detailed report on the events prepared by the ministry, which he said they will hand over to the Prosecution for further investigations.
Macedonia's Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski [centre]. Photo: MIA -
Mothers of Srebrenica association condemned the decision of Republika Srpska, the Serb dominated entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to ban schoolbooks teaching about the Srebrenica genocide and the siege of Sarajevo.“We think this is a step towards denial of crimes and historical revisionism,” said the association in a press release.
-
Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, said on Thursday that the Serb-dominated entity is not seceding from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he also advised college students to refer to Republika Srpska as a state.“The key issue of independence is to push for political decisions that make it possible,” Dodik told students at the Faculty of Security Sciences.
-
Montenegro's higher court on Thursday confirmed prosecution indictments against 14 people, including two Russians charged with masterminding a coup attempt aimed at preventing Montenegro from joining NATO.
Russian nationals Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov have been indicted with various criminal offenses, terrorism and acts against the constitutional order of Montenegro, a court statement said. -
OSCE’s final report on Serbia’s presidential elections noted “that, while fundamental freedoms were respected and candidates were able to campaign freely, biased media coverage, an undue advantage of incumbency and a blurred distinction between campaign and official activities undermined the level playing field for contestants.”
“Noting the predominant position enjoyed by the candidate from the governing coalition, the report recommends developing effective safeguards to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates,” the report writes adding that authorities should “undertake further measures to prevent pressure being exerted on voters, including employees of state or state-affiliated institutions.”
OSCE also highlighted “the absence of an effective mechanism for monitoring media conduct during the campaign” and recommended “the explicit extension of the oversight authority of the media regulatory body to all aspects of elections.”
“Journalists should operate free from any intimidation or pressure and authorities should refrain from any interference in the activities of media and journalists.
“In addition, comprehensive steps should be taken to strengthen the financial and editorial independence of public broadcasters, with adequate funding mechanisms put in place to reduce their dependency on the state budget,” OSCE noted.
OSCE also recommended that “the legal framework regulate all essential aspects of elections, address existing gaps and loopholes and empower institutions to implement control and oversight over the electoral process.” -
Top stories from the Balkans this Friday:
- Two pro-Russian opposition leaders in Montenegro will go on trial over their role in an alleged coup plot, although they continue to insist that the case was staged to discredit them. Read more.
- Albanians have gathered at Tirana’s Skenderbej Square to protest and celebrate for 100 years, will its latest makeover be a hit with the public? Read more.
- A new deal signed quietly by the government in Chisinau with the Russian operator of a power plant in Moldovan breakaway region Transnistria has worried EU observers and the Moldovan opposition. Read more.
-
The #Lastva project demonstrates that #EU delivers on #connectivity agenda f. #Montenegro and the whole… https://t.co/vPYt0p2FIK10:06 AM - 09 Jun 2017
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reacted to critics of the new fountain in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, questioning what people expected of the new feature.
“I do not know what I would say to those who complained that they will not be able to approach the Slavija fountain, what are they thinking? …that they could wash their feet in the fountain?” Vucic said on public broadcaster RTS on Friday, also accusing critics of “hating the whole world”.
A test-run of the new fountain on May 5. Photo: BeoInfo. -
The Montenegrin Chief of Staff, General Ljubisa Jokic visited NATO-led forces in Kosovo, KFOR, on Friday in his first official high-level visit after the country became the newest member of the Western military alliance.
-
2/2 US will stand beside you, observing voting & vote counting b/c election fairness & credibility is crucial for… https://t.co/9CSdkiIzO83:55 PM - 09 Jun 2017
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
Edward Lear, the English artist now known mainly for “The Owl and the Pussy-cat” and other literary nonsense, has been selected by Albanian authorities to promote tourism along the ancient Via Egnatia linking East to West, the Associated Press reported.
The National Coastline Agency on Thursday opened an exhibition of sketches made by Lear during an 1848 visit to Albania. -
A 38-year-old commander from the Bulgarian army has died after an accident with a Panther military helicopter, which crashed into the Black Sea near the coastal town of Kamchiya during national military training on NATO standard and procedures on Friday.The other two members of the crew are in hospital, but their injuries are not life threatening, media reported.Bulgaria's defence minister Krasimir Karakachanov wrote on Facebook after the incident that the case will be investigated and the results will be publicly announced.
-
With 78 MPs "for" - out of 151 in total - new ministers in government were confirmed in the Croatian parliament on Friday.
Instead of ministers from the former junior government Bridge of the Independent Lists, MOST, senior government Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, made a coalition agreement with the liberal Croatian People's Party, HNS. -
Premium Selection
EU Missteps Fuelling Perception of Balkan Double Standards
Politicians in the Balkans frequently accuse the EU of double standards in its dealings with the region. Do they have a point?
Faces From the Belgrade Protesting Crowds
In the months-long protests in Serbia, those marching every weekend are not all demonstrating for purely political reasons – but also to raise their voices over other burning everyday problems.
Copyright BIRN 2007 | Terms of use | Privacy Policy