Balkan Legal News – 19 March 2025

The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 12 March to 18 March 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 – 18 March 2025

A court in North Macedonia ordered former Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and seven others to be placed in detention for 48 hours as the investigation continues into the nightclub fire in the town of Kocani that killed 59 people. The full article can be found here.

Hungary – 17 March 2025

Liberties’ 2025 report on the rule of law again found Hungary to be the weakest link, though Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia are also systematically and intentionally undermining the rule of law in nearly all aspects. The full article can be found here.

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 17 March 2025

After Bosnia's state prosecution issued an arrest warrant for the separatist Bosnian Serb leader and two others on March 12 – which they ignored – the state court issued a new nationwide arrest warrant for them on Monday. The full article can be found here.

Serbia – 15 March 2025

Serbia saw what some are assessing to be the largest protest in its history, with unprecedented numbers of people gathering in the city centre from several directions. The citizens gathered to support the protesting students, who demanded accountability for the last year’s Novi Sad tragedy. The full article can be found here.

North Macedonia – 14 March 2025

Upping his feud with top judges, North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijian Mickoski has said that if five judges he deems unfit to stay in the Judicial Council fail to resign, he will encourage – and perhaps lead – street protests against them. The full article can be found here.

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 14 March 2025

Escalating Bosnia's political crisis, and despite criticism, the Republika Srpska assembly adopted a new draft constitution and law allowing for the formation of a separate army and judiciary. The full article can be found here.

Albania – 13 March 2025

Albania’s Court Against Corruption and Organised Crime’s Appeals Court ruled on Thursday that Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj – who was arrested on February 10 on suspicion of corruption and money laundering – should remain in custody. The full article can be found here.

Bulgaria – 13 March 2025

A Constitutional Court verdict – ruling that the election of 17 MPs representing various parties was illegal – gave new credibility to allegations of irregularities at the October parliamentary polls in Bulgaria. The full article can be found here.