Balkan Insight (original) (raw)

Investigation

‘Why Me?’: North Korean Hackers Steal Identities From Serbia, Bosnia

North Korean hackers are stealing identities to land freelance work with Western companies, and some of the victims are in the Balkans.

News

Montenegro Moves Nearer to EU Goal, Closing Two More Accession Chapters

Montenegro closed two additional chapters in its European Union accession negotiations as officials reiterated their goal of completing talks by the end of the year and joining the bloc in 2028.

In pictures

LGBT Pride Parades Bring Rainbow Celebrations to Athens, Bucharest, Sofia

News

Kosovo Court Jails Man for Spying for Serbian Intelligence

Editor’s choice

Economic Focus

From Staple to Luxury: Olive Oil Prices Become Symbol of Inflation-Hit Turkey

Feature

In Search for Kosovo War Missing, a Joint Commission but Little Hope

Video

ARTE Europe Weekly: EU Looks to ‘Return Hubs’ to Tackle Migration

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News

Montenegro Moves Nearer to EU Goal, Closing Two More Accession Chapters

Montenegro closed two additional chapters in its European Union accession negotiations as officials reiterated their goal of completing talks by the end of the year and joining the bloc in 2028.

Kosovo Court Jails Man for Spying for Serbian Intelligence

Kosovo Albanian Hysri Selimi, a former Islamic State member, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the Pristina Basic Court for spying for Serbian intelligence.

Kosovo Court Detains Five Serbs for Massacre That Catalysed NATO Intervention

Hungary Unveils Plans to Reform Public Media; Fidesz Press Struggles

Croatia Mulls Life Prison Terms – Indefinite Detention of ‘Socially Dangerous’

Bulgarian Ruling Party Backs ‘Family’ March on Same Day as LGBT Pride

Most recent

Montenegro Moves Nearer to EU Goal, Closing Two More Accession Chapters

Kosovo Court Jails Man for Spying for Serbian Intelligence

Kosovo Court Detains Five Serbs for Massacre That Catalysed NATO Intervention

Reporting Democracy

Review

Democracy Digest: Poland and Ukraine Seek to Contain Fallout from WWII Dispute

Analysis

Stray Drones, Rising Anxiety: How the Ukraine War Is Testing Romania’s Defences

Analysis

Can Central Europe Once Again Punch Above its Weight?

Premium

June 15, 2026

ARTE Europe Weekly: EU Looks to ‘Return Hubs’ to Tackle Migration

To speed up deportations of migrants whose asylum claims have failed, the EU is set to authorise detention centres beyond its borders. But will they help to resolve the issue?

June 15, 2026

LGBT Pride Parades Bring Rainbow Celebrations to Athens, Bucharest, Sofia

Tens of thousands of people joined marches for LGBTQ+ rights in the capitals of Greece, Romania and Bulgaria at the weekend – but right-wing traditionalists also held counter-rallies in Bucharest and Sofia.

June 15, 2026

Hungary Unveils Plans to Reform Public Media; Fidesz Press Struggles

The draft law seeks to bring back journalistic independence, editorial freedom, unhindered access to reliable information and a space for open public discourse.

June 15, 2026

In Search for Kosovo War Missing, a Joint Commission but Little Hope

Those who have waited more than a quarter of a century to find loved ones still missing from the war in Kosovo take little hope from a new joint commission between Serbia and its former southern province.

June 15, 2026

‘Why Me?’: North Korean Hackers Steal Identities From Serbia, Bosnia

North Korean hackers are stealing identities to land freelance work with Western companies, and some of the victims are in the Balkans.

June 12, 2026

Week in Review: Flamingos, Think Tankers and Returning Radicals

Our selection of Premium stories digs deep into a lively week, as Europe limps towards rebooting the enlargement system, votes in Kosovo are counted and Albanians throw off a reputation for apathy.

June 12, 2026

Week in Review: Flamingos, Think Tankers and Returning Radicals

Our selection of Premium stories digs deep into a lively week, as Europe limps towards rebooting the enlargement system, votes in Kosovo are counted and Albanians throw off a reputation for apathy.

Opinions

Albania’s ‘Flamingo Revolution’ is About More Than Kushner and Birds

Gamechanger? Bosnia’s World Cup Participation Could Create Moment of Collective Pride

Letter from Brussels: Getting Creative about EU Enlargement in the Balkans

Washington’s Retreat from its Bosnia Policy Leaves Country Adrift

Europe’s Enlargement’s Bargain on Ukraine, Balkans, Risks Backfiring

Investigations

Behind a Trump-Linked Albanian Resort Project, a Host of Murky Interests

Serbia Grows its Facial Recognition Arsenal Amid Legality Concerns

Sole Bidder: SUVs in Kosovo Attack Lead to String of Suspect Serbian Tenders

Acrimony and Accusations Hold up Construction of Albanian Port

In Pictures

June 15, 2026

LGBT Pride Parades Bring Rainbow Celebrations to Athens, Bucharest, Sofia

June 12, 2026

Protest Memes Bring Political Satire to Albania’s Streets

June 5, 2026

Decade of Pride: Tenth Pristina Parade Makes Call for Equality

May 25, 2026

Tito’s Admirers Pay Their Annual Tribute to Yugoslavia’s Strongman

May 25, 2026

Turkish Police Raid Main Opposition Party HQ to Eject Leadership

In Focus

Political Row Flares in Bulgaria Over ‘Illegal Estate’ Linked to Ukrainian Tycoon

Nobel Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk: ‘Justice Is Not the Privilege of Winners’

SEE ALL

Image-Based Abuse on the Rise in Greece, But so Often Unpunished

‘Failure in Prevention’: Iran-Linked Hackers, Stolen Albanian Data and an FBI Sting

Iran-Linked Hackers Target Albanian Post in Latest Attack

SEE ALL

Vucic Visit Shows China is Now Belgrade’s Key Partner, not Russia

‘We Mostly Use FedEx, DHL’: Balkan Ads Offering Opioids Traced to China

As One Door Closes, Another Opens: Chinese Migrants Crossing the Balkans

SEE ALL

Dead Man’s Key: The Crypto Scandal Putting Poland’s President on the Spot

European Parliament Lifts Romanian Far-Right MEP’s Immunity

Ex-PM Jadranka Kosor: Croatia Risks Becoming ‘Scorched Earth’ with Current Politics

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Countries

Albania

Review

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 15, 2026

US Lifts Albanian Opposition Leader Berisha’s ‘Persona Non Grata’ Status

Western Balkans Youth Need More Skills to Recognise Online Fakes: BIRN Report

Last Straw: Albania’s ‘Flamingo Revolution’ Fuelled by Long-Standing Grievances

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Feature

For Some Bosnian War Survivors, Muslim Festival is Wrapped up in Grief and Trauma

US Blames ‘European Divisions’ for Failure to Elect Bosnia High Representative

Europe Using ‘Healthcare Denial’ to Stop Migrants Reaching West, Report Claims

Osim, Dzeko and Bosnia’s Valiant World Cup Football Odyssey

Bulgaria

Analysis

Balkan States Scramble to Act as EU Migration Pact Takes Effect

Week in Review: Knots and Pivots

Asylum, Bulgarian-Style: Deterrence Has Turned Into Abuse, Corruption and Crime

Bulgaria Stops US Military Aircraft Refuelling After Crossing Swords With Trump

Croatia

News

Croatian President Urged to Strip Convicted War Criminal Glavas of Rank

Croatian Court Upholds Conviction of Branimir Glavas for Osijek War Crimes

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 8, 2026

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 1, 2026

Kosovo

News

BIRN Launches Exhibition on Wartime Expulsion of Kosovo Albanians by Rail

Kosovo Election: Kurti Must Heed Message of Voters Tired of Crises

EU Congratulates Kurti on Kosovo Election Win, Urges ‘Compromise’

Kurti’s Vetevendosje Set to Win Kosovo Election on Low Turnout

North Macedonia

Interview

North Macedonia is Splurging on Independence Parties – But Who’s Paying?

Four Scenarios for Democracy in the Western Balkans: From Hope to Disenchantment

Wakeup Moment? North Macedonia Femicides Spur Call for Action, Not Words

Western Balkans Stability Monitor: Elections in the Air

Moldova

Review

Week in Review: Turning Points and Endless Loops

Shadowy Exchange: Moldova’s First Spy Swap Rewrites Region’s Security Playbook

Oligarch’s Conviction Shows Moldova’s Justice Reform is Delivering

Moldovan Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc Jailed for ‘Theft of the Century’

Montenegro

News

Serbia President Attends Summit in Montenegro Despite Intelligence Warnings

Montenegro Bars Entry to 87 Serbian Nationals Ahead of Summit

The Saint: Island Resort’s Reopening a Boon for Montenegrin Tourism

EU Sanctions Slash Russian Investments in Montenegro

Romania

News

Romania’s President Taps Independent Candidate to Form Govt

Romania’s President Struggles to Name PM as Political Deadlock Persists

Letter from London: Close to Boiling Point

Hungary Shows Limits to Central-Southeast Europe’s ‘Nuclear Renaissance’

Serbia

Economic Focus

Brussels Scrutinises Serbian Airline Regulation after Wizz Air Complaint

Serbian Police Unit Members Arrested Over Alleged Cover-Up of Restaurant Shooting

Serbian Prosecution Drops Claim Accusing Ex-Police Chief of Assisting Killer

Takeover of Critical Media Outlet in Serbia Raises Fears For its Future