The following media round up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 23 December to 29 December 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.
Serbia – 29 December 2022
Serbia began a major prosecution of a Bosnian Serb Army officer for Srebrenica crimes and controversially charged four Croatian airmen with attacking Serb refugees, but ongoing war crimes trials crawled along at a snail’s pace. The full article can be found here.
Albanian – 29 December 2022
An eccentric Russian blogger or a dangerous spy? Svetlana Timofeeva lawyers are asking why she has been kept for six months in isolation in pre-trial detention in Albania and still has no prospect of facing a court. The full article can be found here.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 28 December 2022
The Bosnian prosecution charged two former Territorial Defence fighters with attacking Serb civilians near Kotor Varos in 1992 and a former policeman with violence against Bosniaks in the Foca area the same year. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 28 December 2022
The defence and prosecution delivered their opening statements at Pristina Basic Court in the trial of Muhament Alidemaj, a former member of the Serbian police force who is accused of committing war crimes during the Kosovo conflict in 1999. The full article can be found here.
Kosovo – 28 December 2022
The Kosovo government will provide shelter to five Afghan journalists who are fleeing persecution by providing monthly stipends, health insurance, as well as a return ticket for when they can return home. The full article can be found here.
Serbia – 28 December 2022
The Serbian army says it is at its "highest level of combat readiness" after weeks of escalating tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. The full article can be found here.
North Macedonia – 27 December 2022
The commander of the police station at one of North Macedonia's border crossings to Serbia, his deputy and seven other station staff have been arrested for allegedly taking bribes from motorists to ease their crossing, authorities said. The full article can be found here.
Montenegro – 23 December 2022
Montenegro has announced that judges and prosecutors will be vetted to root out corruption. Analysts say foreign experts should be consulted, and lessons learned from the likes of Albania. The full article can be found here.