Southern Balkans

Celebrations of Croatia’s World Cup performance continue unabated, with nationalist singer Thompson still in a starring role. Thousands of people feted the coach of soccer World Cup finalists Croatia, Zlatko Dalic, in his hometown of Livno...

Albania’s Vetting Commission deemed Gani Dizdari, a member of the country’s Constitutional Court, unfit for duty on Monday, 16 July. It concluded that he was unable to prove legal sources for his declared wealth of 256,000...

After suffering a number of cyber-attacks that are believed to have originated from Russia,  Montenegro is beefing up its defences by joining the NATO-backed group based in Estonia. Montenegro is to join the NATO cyber defence...

Jovana Ruzicic remembers her teenage years in Belgrade as a time of war and shortage. “I remember living under the embargoes – waiting in lines for hours at gas stations, the empty supermarket shelves, standing in...

The recent arrests of two Turkish citizens in Azerbaijan and Ukraine – who were then deported to Turkey to face charges of alleged links with the exiled Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen – has added to the...

Croatia’s Adriatic hotels, beaches and bars receive more and more visitors every year. After World Cup football glory, the country’s tourist board expects even more tourists. However, this small country also has a good many interesting...

Talks between Macedonia’s top politicians on the planned ‘name’ referendum are to resume on Sunday or Monday – after government and opposition failed to reach agreement on Thursday. Talks between Macedonia’s main ruling Social Democrats, led...

Bulgaria’s anti-monopoly body has blocked two multimillion deals, saying the buyers might achieve market dominance through a concentration of ownership in both cases. In separate decisions published on Thursday, Bulgaria’s anti-monopoly body, the Commission on Protection...

Bujar Ejupi has tired yet hawkish blue eyes beneath thick eyebrows. His skin is pale, his manner determined despite the threats and pressure of the past two years. Ejupi, 37, was once deputy director and head...

“I am a rape baby. That’s what I am,” says Lejla Damon. “It’s a horrible term because those are two words that you would never want to put together. But realistically…” Damon, now 25, is relaxed...