News and updates from BCSDN and the region
On October 7, violent anti-government protests erupted in Tirana in response to the imprisonment of opposition MP Ervin Salianji. Protesters threw Molotov cocktails at key government buildings, including the prime minister’s office and the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party. Clashes with police occurred outside parliament, where law enforcement used tear gas to control the
Read more →A year after filing a criminal complaint regarding the misuse of millions of euros from public tenders by the Ministry of Family Care and Demography in Serbia, BCSDN member Civic Initiatives and members of the OKO Coalition demand updates from the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime. The complaint, filed in September 2023, accuses former Minister
Read more →From September 18-20, the third regional conference, “Stronger Together: Journalists and the Judiciary Protect Media Freedoms,” was held in Mavrovo, North Macedonia, organized by the Association of Journalists in North Macedonia, Free Press Unlimited, and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee. Over 90 journalists, judges, and prosecutors gathered to address challenges to media freedom in the Western
Read more →United Media (UM) has alerted the international community to escalating attacks on independent media in Serbia. In a letter to European officials, organizations protecting press freedom, and diplomats, UM highlighted the targeting of the outlets—N1, Nova, Danas, and Radar—by government officials, pro-regime media, and political figures. The attacks intensified following UM’s coverage of lithium mining
Read more →In September, Albania became the 36th member of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE), aiming to enhance its ability to address hybrid threats like cyberattacks and disinformation. The Albanian Parliament ratified the membership with overwhelming support, designating the National Authority for Cyber Security as the national representative. SCiDEV welcomes Albania’s
Read more →The international media freedom mission to Croatia has underscored significant challenges regarding media law reform, transparency in state advertising, and journalist safety, including the threats posed by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Conducted between September 9 and 20, the mission involved meetings with various governmental and media organizations. Critics have expressed concerns over the
Read more →An open letter from members of Serbia’s Council for Creating an Enabling Environment for Civil Society, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, urges Prime Minister Miloš Vučević to address recent media attacks on CSOs. The letter condemns misinformation regarding CSO funding and activities, which threatens democracy and Serbia’s EU accession process. It calls on the Prime
Read more →The Joint Submission of the BiH Civil Society Initiative, a coalition of 14 organizations working in various human rights fields, for the 4th Universal Periodic Review highlights ongoing human rights challenges in BiH from 2019 to 2024. Key issues include the operationalization of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), persistent gender inequality, and the discriminatory nature
Read more →Human rights activist Sofija Todorović has been detained multiple times by Serbian border police, most recently on her way to receive the Aachen Peace Prize in Germany. The detentions, often lasting up to four hours, are attributed to a “detailed border inspection,” but the Youth Initiative for Human Rights argues that it constitutes arbitrary deprivation
Read more →Albanian sports journalist Ervin Baku became the target of severe online harassment in August after appearing on Euronews wearing a T-shirt with the Serbian flag. Despite clarifying that his gesture was not meant to provoke and issuing an on-air apology, Baku received numerous threats, including death threats. He reported these threats to the State Police
Read more →Serbian CSOs, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, have urged the Serbian government to end repression against CSOs and activists. This follows the government’s recent attacks on civic space after the controversial Serbia-EU Rio Tinto deal on lithium mining, which disregarded public opinion and led to widespread protests. The government is accused of detaining activists, conducting
Read more →On 14 August, the Police Director General verbally attacked journalists during a press conference over critical reporting of an assault in Pogradec that led to a citizen’s death. Media reports had highlighted family’s concerns about delays in emergency services and police response, accusing the investigation of being incomplete. The Police Director General dismissed these concerns
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