Balkan Legal News – 07 February 2025

The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 01 to 07 February 2025. 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

North Macedonia – 6 February

Pece Mirceski, former head of North Macedonia's Service for General and Common Affairs, has been charged with corruption, including bribery, embezzlement, and document forgery. The charges stem from incidents between June 2021 and June 2024, where he and a co-defendant allegedly serviced government vehicles with used parts, while claiming new parts were used. A court in Skopje has ordered a 30-day detention for Mirceski, citing the risk of escape and obstruction of the investigation. Further investigations are underway into additional potential offences, including overcharged payments for foreign trips, with damages to the state budget estimated at €30,000.

See here.

Bosnia – 4 February

The Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) has once again denied former Bosnian Serb Army commander Radislav Krstic's request for early release. While Krstic acknowledged his involvement in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide and expressed remorse, the MICT believes his rehabilitation is not sufficient to meet the required threshold for early release. The judge emphasised that Krstic’s crimes were grave and that his remorse would need to be more convincing, especially considering the ongoing search for the remains of the genocide's victims. Despite some progress in his rehabilitation, the court determined that his actions did not yet outweigh the severity of his crimes.

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Kosovo – 4 February 

Three former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) fighters, Haxhi Shala, Sabit Januzi, and Ismet Bahtijari, were sentenced by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers after reaching a historic plea deal admitting to witness intimidation and obstruction of justice. Shala received a three-year prison term, while Januzi and Bahtijari were sentenced to two years each. The court acknowledged the historic nature of the plea deals, which marked the first instance where accused individuals voluntarily admitted their guilt at the Specialist Chambers. The three men had attempted to intimidate an unnamed witness to withdraw testimony during criminal proceedings in 2023, resulting in the sentence and a reparations payment to the victim.

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Montenegro – 4 February

Montenegro’s Special State Prosecutor’s Office has reopened four war crimes cases related to events from the 1990s, despite prior legal conclusions, as war crimes do not have a statute of limitations. The cases involve incidents in Morinj, Bukovica, Kaludjerski laz, and the deportation of refugees from Herceg Novi, and new investigative teams will analyse previous criminal cases and gather new evidence. Montenegro participated in the wars in Croatia and Bosnia as part of Yugoslavia, but no conflict occurred on its own soil. Although some individuals were acquitted in the past, these reopened cases offer an opportunity to examine additional evidence and actions, particularly through the database of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts.

See here.

Serbia – 3 February

Serbian lawyers have initiated a 30-day work stoppage in solidarity with ongoing student protests, severely disrupting the country's justice system. The protests were sparked by the tragic collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy, resulting in 15 deaths, and the government's aggressive response to public attempts to commemorate the victims. During the strike, lawyers are halting all activities, including attending court hearings and working with prosecutors, effectively grinding the legal system to a halt. In addition to their support for the student demands, the lawyers are calling for the resignation of top justice officials in response to the government's handling of the situation.

See here.