Albania
The Iranian cyberattack exposed anti-gang cooperation with the United Kingdom, sensitive information on the former State Police Director Gledis Nano’s movements, and alleged assassination preparations against Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti and the former Democratic Party’s leader Lulzim Basha. The cooperative agreements allegedly aim to share criminal and biometric data of Albanian migrants entering the UK illegally. The leak exposed Nano’s border crossings data and other personally identifiable information. Skilled assassins with Jihadi history from Syria were supposed to eliminate the targets and destabilize the country.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Serb Presidency member Dodik met President Putin in Moscow, the State Government Parliament employees have been off the Internet after suffering a cyberattack weeks ago, and HDZ leader Covic remains against a civic state organization. Putin recognized Dodik as “a friend,” while Dodik informed the public that the gas price would stay the same for Republika Srpska. The employees have been restricted from using professional workstations for the last couple of weeks. Covic stated, “This cannot be a classic civil state. History does not allow it. This cannot be a country of one nation.”
Croatia
President Milanovic initiated the dismissal procedure for the Military Security Intelligence Agency (VSOA) Director Ivica Kinder, the recent census showed fewer religiously affiliated Catholics than in 2011, and prime Minister Plenkovic met the released Russian Prisoner of War Vjekoslav Prebeg. A member of the VSOA is suspected of misusing 270.000 euros ($270.000) on official assignments in Lebanon, Poland, and Lithuania. The recent census showed that Catholics comprise 78.97% of the population, compared to 86% in 2011. Prebeg expressed gratitude to Plenkovic, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, and Ukrainian President Zelensky for releasing him from Russian captivity.
Kosovo
NATO deployed additional troops for training amid fears of unrest, President Osmani called on the EU to stop Serbia’s EU integration process, and Prime Minister Kurti appointed a former Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker Petar Miletic as his advisor. KFOR Brigadier General Luca Piperni stated that alliance forces are “vigilant and ready to act.” Miletic noted that the German Foreign Affairs Ministry would finance his attempt to help solve community issues.
Montenegro
President Djukanovic called for early elections, Gross Domestic Product increased 12.7% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2022, and the New Serb Democracy leader Andrija Mandic accused Djukanovic of a coup d’état. Djukanovic rejected Miodrag Lekic as the new Prime Minister and asked the Parliamentary Speaker Djurovic to shorten the Parliament’s mandate. Mandic presented the signatures of 41 deputies rejecting Djukanovic’s attempt to call for early elections.
North Macedonia
Prime Minister Kovacevski met Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jejun Bajramov in New York, Minister Besimi stated that the World Bank would provide 80.2 million euros to support the introduction of an Integrated Financial Management Information System, and the Government extended margin caps on essential foods until the end of the year. Kovacevski emphasized the need for Azerbaijan gas which should come through the Southern Gas Corridor. Bread, sugar, and sunflower oil will continue to be limited at 5%, whereas margins on flour sales, pasta made of durum wheat, locally produced white rice, milk, and eggs will remain capped at 10%.
Serbia
President Vucic stated that “no one strives for real agreements, almost everyone cares only about their own interests” in front of the UN General Assembly, flights from Russia sold out after Putin’s partial mobilization, and Prime Minister Brnabic announced her Cabinet’s formation in October. Vucic asked the delegates, “what is the difference between the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia?” Brnabic stated that the contours of the new Government are slowly emerging.