The following media round up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 7 January to to 13 January 2022.
Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates with a focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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.
Albania – 7 January 2022
The Albanian Police have promised to investigate the behaviour of officers who allegedly prevented a journalist in Shkodra from filming a police action even though he had a press card. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 10 January 2022
Protesters gathered in Pristina to call for the release of Nezir Mehmetaj, an alleged former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter who is on trial in Serbia for alleged killings and looting during wartime. The full article can be found here.
Albania – 10 January 2022
The Albanian government has signed an agreement with the US-based Jones International Group, which is expected to help advise on cyber security measures after the country suffered a huge data leak in late December. The full article can be found here.
Montenegro – 11 January 2022
The Higher Court in Podgorica has confirmed an indictment charging Slobodan Curcic with committing war crimes in the Foca area of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. The full article can be found here.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 12 January 2022
Former Bosnian Serb Army soldiers Milomir Djuricic and Vukadin Spasojevic pleaded not guilty to wartime crimes against civilians including unlawful detention, torture and rape at a prison camp in Visegrad in 1992 and 1993. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 13 January 2022
Nasim Haradinaj testified at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague that the prosecution should have prevented the leak of confidential documents from war crimes cases rather than blaming him and the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans’ Organisation for what happened. The full article can be found here.
Montenegro – 13 January 2022
The European Court of Human Rights confirmed that Montenegro has settled with convicted murderer Ljubo Bigovic, awarding him 2,300 euros in damages and costs for poor conditions and inadequate medical care during his detention. The full article can be found here.
Serbia – 13 January 2022
The latest Human Rights Watch report says the rights of minorities remain poor or have worsened in several Southeast and Central European countries – and respect for the rule of law remains defective. The full article can be found here.