Balkan Legal News – 02 December 2024

The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 23 November 2024 to 01 December 2024. Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates with a focus on Bosnia and Hercegovina, 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.

Guernica 37 Balkan Legal News

Montenegro – 21 November

Valentina Pavlicic was elected as the new president of Montenegro's Supreme Court, with unanimous support from the Judicial Council. She pledged to address the poor conditions within the judiciary, restore trust, and strengthen its authority. Pavlicic, a former representative to the European Court of Human Rights, took office following the resignation of former court president Vesna Medenica, who faced criminal charges after being involved in a drug and smuggling scandal. See here

Kosovo – 29 November

The Hague-based Specialist Chambers ordered former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter Pjeter Shala to pay 208,000 euros in compensation to eight victims for crimes committed during the 1998-99 Kosovo conflict. Shala, convicted of arbitrary detention, torture, and murder, was sentenced to 18 years in prison. This follows a similar case where another KLA fighter, Salih Mustafa, was ordered to pay reparations for his crime. See here.

Kosovo – 28 November

Kosovo has established its first state-owned arms production and drone design factory to enhance its military capabilities in response to what the Prime Minister has called “the current security situation”. Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci announced the project, which will according to Kurti, ensure the sustainability of Kosovo's armed forces. Efforts to upgrade Kosovo’s defence force into a regular army are not supported by NATO, although deals between Kosovo and individual NATO partners like the US and Turkey, UK and Germany is essentially achieving the same effect. See here.

Bosnia – 27 November

Zdravko Sagolj, a former general in the Croatian defence Council during the Bosnia war, has been arrested on charges of organised crime and cocaine trafficking from South America to the Balkans. The arrest was part of an international police operation, codenamed "The General," involving coordinated efforts from Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia under Europol’s supervision. Sagolj is suspected of being involved in smuggling 500 kilograms of cocaine, using encrypted communication apps and sailors from Balkan countries to transport the drugs via maritime routes. This is his second arrest this year, having previously been detained in April on similar charges, although he was released and reportedly resumed illegal activities. See here.

Albania –27 November

Albania's Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime lifted the house arrest of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who had been under the measure for almost a year. Upon his release, Berisha called for the formation of a "technical" caretaker government to oversee the country ahead of the 2025 elections. He also criticized Prime Minister Edi Rama, urging him to create the proposed government. Berisha had been under investigation for approving a law that allegedly benefited his son-in-law in a lucrative business deal, but both he and his son-in-law denied the charges. See here