The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 13 January to 22 January 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.
Albania – 21 January
Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha plans to ask the incoming U.S. administration under Donald Trump to review his "persona non grata" status, which was imposed in 2021 due to corruption allegations.
Berisha blames the decision on corrupt lobbying by Prime Minister Edi Rama and billionaire George Soros. Despite being sanctioned by the U.S. and the UK, Berisha regained leadership of the Democratic Party in 2024 and is now leading the opposition.
He is also facing corruption charges in Albania related to a special law benefiting his son-in-law, although both deny any wrongdoing.
See here.
Kosovo – 16 January
The seventh anniversary of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic’s assassination was marked with mourning and frustration, as the masterminds behind the crime remain unidentified and unpunished.
Commemorations took place in North Mitrovica and Belgrade, attended by family, activists, and officials, who remembered Ivanovic as a proponent of non-violence and dialogue. Four individuals were convicted in Kosovo for involvement in the murder, but key suspects, Milan Radoicic and Zvonko Veselinovic, were named but not charged.
Ivanovic's son expressed disappointment over the lack of action by both Kosovo and Serbian authorities, labelling the investigations as insufficient and inconclusive.
See here.
Albania – 15 January
Abania granted strategic investor status to Jared Kushner’s €1.4 billion proposal to develop Sazan Island into a luxury resort, expected to create 1,000 jobs.
The uninhabited island, once a military outpost, holds historical significance but lacks fresh water and remains largely undeveloped. Environmental concerns may arise as the project will affect 562 hectares, including 45 hectares of construction.
Kushner’s broader investments in Albania and Serbia have prompted scrutiny over potential ties to his father-in-law, Donald Trump, and questions about leveraging political influence.
See here.
Kosovo - 15 January
Kosovo's government announced the closure of all remaining Serbia-run "parallel institutions" in Kosovo, including post and tax offices, marking the end of Belgrade’s administrative control. Kosovo officials hailed the operation as a fulfilment of their promise to dismantle Serbian authority in Kosovo, while Serbian officials condemned it as an act of "terror." Despite the closure, some Serbian institutions continue to operate in Kosovo, and the prosecution has not approved all parts of the operation. This action further escalates tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, particularly regarding governance and minority rights.
See here.
Bosnia – 14 January
Bosnia's state court confirmed an indictment against Radinko Stevanovic, a former Bosnian Serb soldier, for his involvement in the systematic execution of Bosniak civilians at a slaughterhouse in Karakaj in 1992.
The victims were detained and executed by Stevanovic and others, and the case is part of ongoing war crimes trials in Bosnia. Additionally, another indictment was confirmed against Radomir Maric for the abduction and killing of Bosniaks in Bijeljina.
These trials continue the pursuit of justice for the atrocities committed during the Bosnian War.
See here.
Kosovo – 14 January
Kosovo’s ruling Vetevendosje party, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, faced criticism for boycotting televised electoral debates, with media rights groups calling it an attack on media pluralism.
The party refused to participate in debates on three major TV stations, citing claims of oligarchic control, although no clear reason was given. Journalists and media organisations condemned the boycott, arguing that it undermines transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The move has sparked debate over the government's approach to media freedom and political engagement.
See here.
Bosnia - 13 January
Bosnian prosecutors charged four former Bosnian Serb soldiers with crimes against humanity for the 1995 execution of 31 Bosniak men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica.
The accused, members of the Milic Light Infantry Brigade, are alleged to have captured and shot the victims at Jasikovaca, with some individually executing prisoners. This case is part of the broader effort to prosecute those responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, which claimed over 7,000 lives and was ruled genocide.
The ongoing trials seek justice for the survivors and victims of the horrific atrocity.
See here.