Monday Briefing from the Balkans: May 5, 2025
Source: Balkan Insight
Outrage after bishop calls WWII fascist a ‘hero’ in Montenegro
Metropolitan Joanikije of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro said on Saturday that the leader of the local fascists during World War II, Pavle Djurisic, was a “great hero of invincible character”.
The opposition, civil society groups and the Islamic Community organisation in Montenegro criticised Joanikije for his remarks. The Bosniak Council in Montenegro said on Sunday that such statements are “unacceptable from the point of view of civil, moral and humanitarian norms”.
Djurisic was involved crimes during World War II in northern Montenegro and eastern Bosnia, including the killings of 8,000 Muslim women, children and elderly people.
Kosovo fails to inaugurate the parliament – again
Kosovo MPs failed on Saturday to inaugurate a new parliament for the 10th time since the February 9 elections. Winning party Vetevendosje attempted to initiate a secret vote for the parliamentary speaker’s role but the proposal only got 54 votes in the 120-seat parliament and did not pass.
Vetevendosje wants acting minister of justice Albulena Haxhiu to be parliamentary speaker but she does not have the support of the opposition.
Turkey bids farewell to popular politician
Tributes poured in as friends and political opponents gathered on Sunday for the commemoration and funeral of Sirri Sureyya Onder, former deputy speaker of Turkey’s parliament.
Onder was an ethnic Turk, but was a member of pro-Kurdish parties actively working for peace between the Turkish government and Kurdish groups.
Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was attacked while he was leaving the memorial ceremony organised for Onder. A white-haired man approached him and slapped him in the face, TV footage showed.
The attacker, who was condemned by politicians including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was taken into custody.
Police injured as football fans clash in Croatia
Riots involving football fans broke out in Split on Saturday after Dinamo Zagreb defeated Hajduk Split 3-1. A total of 90 Hajduk supporters and 108 Dinamo fans were detained. According to a statement from the Split police, 21 police officers sustained minor injuries which were treated by ambulance workers. The rioters reportedly threw stones, fireworks, and even a metal fence at the officers.
A criminal investigation is underway involving 11 individuals. During searches, the police found more than 55 fireworks in the possession of 14 people.
Serbia’s Vucic ends US visit due to health issues
Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic terminated his visit to the US after he felt ill on Saturday, the media has reported. A cardiologist from the Military Medical Academy, where Vucic was admitted after returning to Serbia, said that the president experienced severe chest pain caused by high blood pressure. Vucic is currently in a stable condition.
At the weekend, Serbia marked for the first time the Days of Remembrance for the Victims of Mass Murders. The government established the commemorations in September 2024, in memory of the mass shootings at a Belgrade elementary school on May 3, 2023 and in the villages of Malo Orasje and Dubona a day late.
Perpetrator dies in Greek ATM explosion
A woman was killed by an explosion in Thessaloniki on Saturday after she was putting an explosive device near an ATM in the city. Greek police reported that the 39-year-old did not plan the attack alone, and that others gave the order to place the device.
Police believe the blast was linked to criminal activity rather than politically-motivated terrorism.
The original article: belongs to Balkan Insight .
