Balkan Legal News - 12 January 2024

The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 5 January 2024 to 12 January 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.

Greece - 11 January 2024

Centre-right Prime Minister says he strongly supports a law change in Greece to legalise same-sex marriage, but without specifying when the bill will be submitted; see here.

Croatia - 11 January 2024

Prime Minister says law changes presented to Croatia's parliament will send 'a clear message society that killing women and violence against women are not acceptable'; see here.

Moldova - 11 January 2024

Protesters in breakaway Transnistria say recent changes to customs rules, taxing exports from the region, amount to an 'economic blockade'; see here.

Turkey - 11 January 2024

Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria have signed an agreement to clear mines drifting in the Black Sea that have posed a threat to shipping since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine; see here.

Bosnia - 10 January 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship to former Bosnian Serb fighter Ratko Samac, who is wanted for allegedly committing war crimes against civilians and killing a married couple in 1993; see here.

Greece - 10 January 2024

The savage murder of a 41-year-old pregnant woman, the country's first femicide of 2024, has stirred fresh calls in Greece for femicide to be made a distinct criminal act; see here.

Croatia - 10 January 2024

In 2024, Croatians convicted of war crimes could start to have their criminal records deleted under a little-known rehabilitation law – which could also potentially allow them to sue anyone who publicly highlights their convictions; see here.

Kosovo - 10 January 2024

Belgrade’s High Court sentenced former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) fighter, Hasan Dakaj in jail for 30 days. He was accused and arrested for kidnapping and annihilating civilians during the war. The court ordered Dakaj’s detention on January 6 for the actual occasion of possible escape. He was arrested at Merdare’s border point between Kosovo and Serbia while going to Italy; see here.

Serbia - 9 January 2024

An urgent submission has been made to the United Nations Committee Against Torture regarding the alleged kidnap and torture of Serbian opposition politician Nikola Sadulovic after he paid respects at the grave of a Kosovo Albanian war hero in early January, while the EU remains silent on the matter; see here.

Romania - 9 January 2024

Romanian appeal judges overturned a court decision instituting the seizure of several million dollars’ worth of assets owned by influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, who have been indicted for alleged human trafficking and rape; see here.