Balkan Legal News

The following media round up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 3 March to 9 March 2023.

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.

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 9 March 2023

Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body GRECO has urged Bosnian authorities to overcome political logjams that are delaying important reforms designed to prevent corruption. The full article can be found here.

Serbia – 8 March 2023

Milorad Ulemek and Milos and Aleksandar Simovic, prosecution witnesses in the case of the killing of the famous Serbian journalist, refused to answer any questions from the Belgrade Appeal Court about the case. The full article can be found here.

Kosovo – 8 March 2023

After the Kosovo authorities arrested an ethnic Serb policeman on charges of war crimes committed during the Kosovo war, Serbia accused Pristina of pronouncing him guilty before a trial had even started. The full article can be found here.

Montenegro – 7 March 2023

Montenegro Accused of Illegally Ordering Expulsion of Turkish Citizen. The family of a Turkish man who faces expulsion from Montenegro fear he may be caught up in a Turkish crackdown on building contractors in the aftermath of devastating twin earthquakes, his lawyer says. The full article can be found here.

Serbia – 6 March 2023

The Belgrade Court of Appeal opened the retrial for the 1999 murder of the journalist Slavko Curuvija, questioning four defendants and the only eyewitness in the case. The full article can be found here.

Albania – 6 March 2023

After a court ruling failed to resolve who leads the biggest opposition party, both rival groups announced they will enter the next elections with their own candidates – deepening the divisions. The full article can be found here.

North Macedonia – 6 March 2023

Branislav Dimitrijevic faces charges in Armenia of fraud and illegally crossing the border with the help of a trio of Macedonian diplomats. But his legal issues have not stopped him from winning lucrative public contracts in his native North Macedonia. The full article can be found here.

Montenegro – 3 March 2023

Judicial authorities are demanding tougher security measures after a man activated a hand-grenade at the entrance of the Basic Court building in Podgorica, killing himself and wounding eight people. The full article can be found here.