Balkans

The Socialists’ streamlined political machine and controversial patronage system won them a third election victory – but have worrying implications for democracy, experts say. As Albanian election officials were busy counting ballots cast in Albania’s April 25 parliamentary elections last week, one name popped up in the media as a …

With a parliamentary majority proving elusive, Bulgaria appears destined for another election. That’s about all anyone can predict with any degree of certainty. Uncertainty is the only certainty in Bulgarian politics these days. Since an inconclusive election on April 4, both the winner – long-time ruling party GERB – and …

The fact that territorial changes in the Balkan region are becoming a reoccurring debate suggest that these dangerous ideas are gaining traction, even within the EU. Much has already been said about the now infamous “non-paper” apparently composed by Slovenia’s Prime Minister, Janez Jansa, which mulls the possible partition of …

A newly-painted mural of Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic and a gun attack on the local mosque have scared Bosniaks who returned to the town of Foca after fleeing because of wartime atrocities in the 1990s. Near the school and the municipality building in the little town of Foca, …

Some war crime survivors have applied to join an innovative scheme to allow victims to get involved in trials at the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers, but others remain hesitant, fearing violent retribution if their identities are revealed. When Kosovo war victim Gani heard that former guerrilla Pjeter Shala had been …

A new report by US-based democracy watchdog Freedom House argues the two countries “stand out for their unparalleled democratic deterioration over the past decade”. The countries of Central and Southeast Europe are continuing to witness declines in democracy, media and election freedom, and respect for human rights, according to the …

The Russian envoy has been summoned to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry after the authorities launched an investigation into six citizens of Russia suspected of involvement in a series of blasts at four weapons and armament facilities in Bulgaria between 2011 and 2020. “From the evidence gathered so far, it can …

A political deal is giving new hope to thousands of people who remain officially invisible because – even though some were born in the country – they cannot get citizenship documents. They were born or have lived in the country for years but have never managed to regulate their legal …

Kosovo’s involuntary involvement via the Washington Agreement in the thorny issue of Jerusalem’s status threatens to permanently damage its relations with the Arab and Muslim world. The proximity of the Western Balkans to the European Union bestows it with particular geopolitical significance and in recent years, an increasing number of …

Stay tuned for all of the latest developments, election results and reactions as Albanian citizens head to the polls to elect a new government. Voters in Albania head to polling stations on Sunday to elect 140 members of a new parliament after a tense campaign marked by heated polemics and …