Island of Castaways: Traumatic Histories Wash Ashore on Gokceada
The paths of a street-vendor from Kandahar, an elderly couple from Bulgaria, and a Greek tech worker and a tattooist converge on an Aegean holiday island with a troubled past.…
Democracy Digest: Orban Ponders US Exile; Hungary Set to Open Communist-Era Archives
Elsewhere, Magyar claims Hungary tilted Slovak 2023 election Fico’s way by shifting migrants to border; crypto scandal in Poland puts spotlight on president’s veto of law on such assets; protests…
Justice or Realpolitik? Two Prime Ministers, Two Futures for the Balkans
Kosovo’s Albin Kurti and Albania’s Edi Rama have distinct and divergent approaches to governing, each with its own set of risks and rewards. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Serbia Stands Accused as Kosovo Court Gives Verdict on 2023 Armed Attack
A court in Kosovo will issue its verdict on Friday in the trial of three Serb men accused of involvement in a deadly attack on police in 2023. According to…
‘Compromise’ is the Hardest Word: Kosovo Argues its Way to Another Election
Kosovo’s rival political leaders are already slipping into election campaign mode, trading blame and barbs for their failure to find a new president for the country. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
In Romania, Plagiarism is the Achilles’ Heel of the Political Elite
For years, Romania’s political elite has mounted a rearguard action to protect its weakest link – the academic plagiarism that was used on an alarming scale to secure career advancement.…
Mythical Quest: How the Ancient Dacians are Reinterpreted in Modern Romania
Photographer Petrut Calinescu went on a journey to explore how contemporary Romanians interpret the mythology to the ancient Dacian people - from re-enactment events to tourist attractions and right-wing ‘sovereigntist’…
‘Failure in Prevention’: Iran-Linked Hackers, Stolen Albanian Data and an FBI Sting
Revelations from the US about an alleged Iran-linked hacker group’s attempt to sell Albanians’ personal data have raised more questions about cyber defences in the Balkan country after a series…
Bulgaria’s Eighth Election in Five Years: Shake-Up or More of the Same?
The convincing victory of Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria alliance should offer the opportunity for stable government after years of turmoil - but little is known about which political direction it…
Bulgaria’s Radev Fuels Hope of Judicial Reform, Keeps Europe Guessing
In Brussels, Rumen Radev’s landslide win in Bulgaria’s parliamentary election has fuelled fears that Russia will have a new ally inside the European Union. At home, however, hopes are rising…